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VOLUME 13
Issue #02
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CONT EN T
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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NATIONAL HYDROGEN ENERGY MISSION TO SOON GO FOR CABINET AP-
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Disclaimer,Limitations of Liability RENEW POWER EYES US
While every efforts has been made to ensure the high quality and accuracy HARNESSING NAGALAND’S HYDRO & LISTING VIA SPAC AT $4 BN
of EQ international and all our authors research articles with the greatest SOLAR POTENTIAL NOW CRUCIAL VALUATION
of care and attention ,we make no warranty concerning its content,and
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INDIA INTERNATIONAL
INDIA’S COAL POWER USE MAY HAVE ALREADY
PEAKED, SAYS REPORT SUNGROW BAGS 500 MW AGREEMENTS DURING PV JAPAN EXPO
41 44 57
ELECTRIC VEHICLE ELECTRIC VEHICLE

HUAWEI FILES TWO PATENTS RELATED TO
Sterling And Wilson Partners With Enel X To Enter Elec-
ELECTRIC VEHICLES, SAYS NEW REPORT
tric Mobility Segment In India
71 61 FEATURED
INDIA ON TRACK TO ACHIEVING
CLIMATE GOALS: PM
28
RENEWABLE ENERGY FEATURED
The Future of Electricity Generation is in Green POLAND SEES ENERGY TRANSFORMATION
Energy COSTING $120 BILLION BY 2045
48
BUSINESS & FINANCE

ELECTRIC VEHICLE AMARA RAJA BATTERIES Q3
Flipkart to deploy more than 25,000 EVs in supply chain PAT SPURTS 18% TO RS 194 CR

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india
OPINION COAL INDIA STRIVING

TO FIND ITS PLACE IN A GREENER
WORLD
Coal India is striving to find its place in a greener world. The top pure-play
miner of the black stuff is establishing new units to focus on solar and renew-
ables. It’s a hedge against coal’s decline for an $11 billion company that’s key
T
to India’s power needs.
he state-controlled extractor accounts for 80%
of the dirty commodity dug up in the second-
largest coal-consuming country. Most of it is For its renewables play, Coal India will acquire land
used for power production. If power demand – costly but easier for government entities to secure
grows 6% each year, India’s annual coal – and perhaps provide basic infrastructure. It wants
requirement will rise to 1,250 million tonnes by outside investors to provide technology and capital
2030, the company estimates. That assumes as it tries to become carbon neutral. Investors see
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hits his ambi- value in Indian renewables: $23 billion Adani Green
tious goal of quadrupling power capacity from Energy is valued at some 600 times trailing earnings
renewable energy to 450 gigawatts by then. Coal India has some after France’s Total picked up a 20% stake in January.
116 major coal projects underway whose combined peak capacity Coal India’s initial goals are modest. In solar, it’s aim-
will exceed its output in the year to March. But beyond the next ing for power capacity of 3 GW by 2024, less than 1%
decade or so, boss Pramod Agrawal admits the future of the of India’s 2030 renewables target. It expects to invest
commodity is limited. Shareholders of Coal India have lost money just a little over its annual power consumption ex-
over the past five years, even including dividends, while the Nifty pense. Ironically, part of the plan is to use renewables
50 produced handsome returns. Though profitable, the company to power the fossil-fuel company’s operations. The
faces fresh wage hikes for some 300,000 employees and is owed effort, though, may be the start of something larger.
growing sums from power producers, a problem made worse And if Coal India can minimise its financial outlay as
by Covid-19: Trade receivables were up almost 50% in the nine it taps into the hyper-hot fields of green investment
months to December. that could help it scrape out of the investor pits.
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india
NATIONAL HYDROGEN ENERGY MISSION TO SOON GO FOR CABINET

APPROVAL: MNRE
The proposed National Hydrogen Energy Mission for generating hydrogen from green power sources will soon be placed for the Cabinet approval as the
I
document will be finalised this month, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said.
n the Budget speech, Finance minister Nirmala
Sitharaman had proposed to launch a National Hy-
drogen Mission for generating hydrogen from green
power sources. She had said, “Prime Minister,
while speaking at the 3rd RE-Invest Conference in
November 2020, had announced plans to launch a
comprehensive National Hydrogen Energy Mission.
It is now proposed to launch a Hydrogen Energy
Mission in 2021-22 for generating hydrogen from
green power sources”. In a statement issued after a
press conference on the Budget proposals for clean
energy, the ministry said, “The draft Mission docu-
ment has already gone through the consultation
process and is expected to be finalized in February
2021. Thereafter, it will go through inter-ministerial
consultation and Cabinet approval process”. The
roadmap to promote hydrogen is expected to be
ready in the next two months. The finance minister in her budget speech had said,
“To build up domestic capacity, we will notify a phased
The mission would put forward a specific strategy for the manufacturing plan for solar cells and solar panels”. The
short term (4 years), and broad strokes principles for long solar energy project developers had urged the government
term (10 years and beyond). The aim is to develop India to hold back imposition of BCD for the time being in view
into a global hub for manufacturing of hydrogen and fuel of India”s ambitious target of having 175GW of renew-
cells technologies across the value chain. Towards this able energy by 2022 and limited manufacturing capacity
end, a framework to support manufacturing via suitable of solar equipment in the country. About certain reported
incentives and facilitation aligned with ”Make in India” and incidents of cancellation of auctions of clean energy
”Atmanirbhar Bharat” will be developed. It will provide the project after issuing a letter of award to developers, the
necessary flexibility to capture benefit from advances tak- officials explained that they are taking up the issue with the
ing place in the technology landscape. The government will respective states. However, they admitted that the MNRE
facilitate demand creation in identified segments. Possible could not interfere on a day-to-day basis on these issues
areas include suitable mandates for use of green hydrogen as the states are following the standard bidding document
in the industry such as fertiliser, steel, petrochemicals etc. for auctioning clean energy projects.
Major activities envisaged under the mission include creat-
ing volumes and infrastructure; demonstrations in niche The ministry also lauded the budget announcement about
applications (including for transport, industry); goal-orient- capital augmentation of Solar Energy Corporation of India
ed research & development; facilitative policy support; and (SECI) and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency
putting in place a robust framework for standards and reg- (IREDA). It is proposed in the budget to provide an addi-
ulations for hydrogen technologies. About the promotion tional capital infusion of Rs 1,000 crore to SECI and Rs 1,500
of domestic manufacturing of solar equipment, the ministry crore to IREDA. The cumulative renewable energy capacity
stated that a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme is installed in the country as on December 31, 2020, is 91,000
also announced in the Budget for 2021-22. The PLI scheme MW and further 50,000 MW of the projects are under
to create manufacturing global champions for an AtmaNirb- implementation, of which SECI’s share is 54 per cent. To
har Bharat have been announced for 13 sectors, including give a further boost to the RE sector, an additional capital
manufacturing of ”High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules”.
infusion of Rs 1,000 crore to SECI has been provided which
The government has committed nearly Rs 1.97 lakh crore will enable it to float 15,000 MW of tenders on yearly basis.
over 5 years starting 2021-22, including Rs 4,500 crore for On yearly basis, it will attract investment of more than Rs
”High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules” – which will be will be 60,000 crore, generate employment of 45,000 job years and
implemented by the MNRE. The PLI schemes will incentivise reduce emissions of 28.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year. The
new Gigawatt (GW) scale solar PV manufacturing facilities in capital infusion will also enable the SECI to set up innova-
India. The ministry said that the EFC (expenditure finance com-
tive projects of with an investment of around Rs 17,000
mittee) meeting for formulating a scheme in this regard has al-
crore, the ministry said. With the equity infusion of Rs 1,500
ready been held and it will now be taken to the Cabinet for final
approval. The scheme will reward efficiency of solar modules as
crore for IREDA, it would be able to extend additional loan
well as local value addition. Under the PLI scheme, 10,000 MW facility of Rs 12,000 crore. This would be in addition to its
capacity of integrated solar PV manufacturing plants (from the existing book size of Rs 27,000 crore. The additional equity
manufacturing of wafer-ingot to high-efficiency modules) will be will also improve its capital adequacy, which will help
set up by Q4 (January-March 2023) of 2022-23 with the direct IREDA in borrowing at a lower rate of interest, thus lower-
investment for around Rs 14,000 crore. About the imposition of ing the interest rates for developers. It would also help in
basic customs duty (BCD) on solar equipment to boost domes- the financing of around 4,500 MW of RE projects worth
tic manufacturing, the MNRE officials explained that the details Rs 18,000 to 19,000 crore. It will generate employment of
about that would come under the phased manufacturing plan for 13,500 job years and reduce emissions of 8.55 million tonnes
solar cells and panels, which would be notified later. of CO2, the ministry said.

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INDIA LACKS SILICA TO

MAKE SOLAR PANELS:
GOVT
Government of India said India does not have any known deposits of silica suitable for producing solar panels. The statement comes in the wake of
S
concerns of dependency on China for meeting India’s renewable energy needs.
olar panels are made from thinly cut wafers of At present, China dominates the market for solar panels
crystalline silicon, which is produced by purifying due to its enormous infrastructure for refining silica and
metallurgical grade silica or sand. Silica that is producing silica wafers. However, Jha said India has been
used for PV panels has to be at least 99.99999% trying to encourage local manufacturing of downstream
pure. “The metallurgical grade silica required for materials, such as solar cells and panels, even though India
manufacturing of photovoltaic ingots/ wafers/ does not have enough silica (sand) to produce the wafers.
cells/ modules has not been reported in any This has been done, he said, by increasing custom tariffs on
part of the country so far,” said Manoj Kumar
solar equipment imported into India. The government has
Jha, minister for mines, coal and parliamentary
increased basic customs duty on solar inverters and solar
affairs. Metallurgical silica is made by removing
oxygen from quartz by heating it in an electric arc
lamps from Feb 2, 2021. It has also imposed a safeguard duty
furnace. This is then exposed to hydrochloric acid on solar cells and modules. India has also put in clauses in
and copper, which produce trichlorosilane gas. various procurement plans requiring the developers and
This vapor is treated with hydrogen to produce suppliers to source panels made in India. There has been
silane gas from which molten silicon can be widespread concern about India’s complacency in investing
manufactured. Finally, this crystalline silicon is to create an ecosystem of solar industries in the country,
doped with phosphorous and boron to form a with fears being expressed that the country could depend on
semiconductor, which is then sliced into wafers imports in this area just like it does for hydrocarbons.
for use in solar cells.

india
AMP ENERGY INDIA

COMMISSIONS SOLAR
PROJECT FOR L&T
METRO RAIL IN
HYDERABAD
Amp Energy India mentioned it has commissioned one of many largest behind-the-meter solar tasks for L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd. The metro rail is
A
a public-private partnership (PPP) project between the Telangana authorities and infrastructure firm Larsen & Toubro Ltd.
mp Energy has put in 7.805 MW solar plant for The solar plant was absolutely commissioned on
L&T metro project in Hyderabad (Telangana) December 26, 2020, and the project execution was
to produce solar energy to its 24 stations and a managed by following all compliances positioned to
pair of depots in town, an organization assertion handle COVID-19 state of affairs in India, the asser-
mentioned. The energy buy settlement (PPA) tion mentioned. “Amp’s Solar project for Hyderabad
with Amp for procurement of solar energy is for Metro Rail Project is a futuristic infrastructure project-
25 years and can generate 11,300 MWh of inex- a high-quality dependable RE system powering an
perienced vitality in a yr. Hyderabad Metro Rail eco-friendly and sustainable transportation system.
Project will meet 15 per cent of the full electrical
consumption via solar energy equipped by Amp Energy. The plant is
without doubt one of the largest behind-the-meter solar tasks in India.
We believe that projects like

these will provide the right
momentum for a mass public
This initiative will help us in reducing our carbon transport across cities in
footprint and using green energy to partly pow- India to switch to sustainable
er our operations. We are happy to partner with energy sources and help meet
Amp for this project that has helped achieve our India’s climate goals, Pinaki
sustainability objectives, K V B Reddy, MD and Bhattacharyya, MD and CEO,
CEO, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad), mentioned. Amp Energy India, mentioned.
CSL CMD INAUGURATES 450 KWP SOLAR POWER PLANT: TOTAL

CAPACITY REACHED 1285KWP
Shri Madhu S Nair, Chairman & Managing Director of CSL, formally inaugurated the new 450 kWp solar power plant. Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), in its
W
efforts to enhance renewable energy resources, has added 450kWp grid-connected solar power plants at CSL premises.
ith this, the total installed capacity
of solar power plants in CSL has
become 1285kWp. An additional
200kWp solar plant is in the final
stage of completion and is sched-
uled to be commissioned next
week. CSL has started utilizing
renewable energy since 2013. In
2015, CSL had given a green en-
ergy commitment to the Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy, Govt.
of India that it shall develop 1MW of
renewable energy during the next
five year period.

india
HARNESSING NAGALAND’S HYDRO & SOLAR POTENTIAL

NOW CRUCIAL
The Association of Power Engineers Nagaland (APEN) released a ‘vision document 2021 for sustainable development of Nagaland state power sector.’
The document stressed on the need to generate power using Nagaland State’s own resources and reduce spending on power purchase.
T
he vision document describes its mis- APEN stated that the vision emphasises on development of
sion as towards transforming Nagaland state owned generating projects by harnessing the hydro
through infrastructure and skill devel- electric potentials and solar power generation to meet the
opment of the State Power Sector; State’s power requirement and simultaneously reduce
to achieve structural reforms, profes- the spending on power purchase. Installation of Rooftop
sionalism and sustainable power sector Solar Generation (RTS) and alternative clean power aims to
development; and to achieve 1,000 kWh promote ecological sustainable growth while addressing
per capita consumption. It was released to meet the State’s energy security. This vision document
by Tongpang Ozukum, Minister for PWD also aim to suggest ways to provide stable, quality and
(Housing & Mechanical) Nagaland in affordable power supply to all consumers across the state,
commemoration of World Engineering by transforming the state power sector into a profession-
Day at Hotel Vivor under the aegis of ally structured organization to meet the challenging de-
Federation of Nagaland State Engineer- mands in all its three core aspects of generation, transmis-
ing Service Associations (FONSESA). sion and distribution of electricity.
Ozukum was hopeful that this vision doc-
ument will be converted into reality for
the benefit of all. The vision document
has been prepared covering all aspects
of the power sector of the state, said the The Power Department faces an enormous shortage of workers
APEN. The vision document captures and workforces without requisite competencies. In an era where
the essence of the envisioned solution digitalization and artificial intelligence are driven forces for
in the State’s plaguing power sector and modernization of power sector, skill development for the entire
thereby serves as a guide and reference sector has become imperative. The vision document projects
for policy makers, planners and stake-
strategies to be adopted in training and honing the skills of the
holders of the state. The document aims
workforce to meet the challenges facing the department and
to give impetus to economic growth and
transform the state through the interven-
ultimately make power sector of the state a robust public utility,
tion of the Power Department. stated APEN President, Er Penrithung Yanthan and General
Secretary, Er T Lithrichum Sangtam.

india
INDIA’S COAL POWER USE MAY HAVE ALREADY

PEAKED, SAYS REPORT
India’s use of coal may have peaked in 2018, according to a new report by according to U.K.-based clean energy group Ember. That’s sooner than many
experts have forecast.
I
ndia wants to reach 175 gigawatts of renewable en-
ergy capacity by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030. Those
targets are enough to meet an annual increase in
electricity demand of up to 5%, according to Lolla.
But the country will have to speed up its renewables
The share of the dirtiest fossil fuel in rollout to reach its green energy targets. Solar and
India’s power mix fell for the second wind power generation in India totalled 118 terawatt-
year in a row in 2020, according to hours in 2020, still far behind the government’s goal
the report released, due to an eco- of reaching 274 TWh by 2022. Rapidly cutting global
nomic slowdown in 2019 followed coal consumption is necessary to meet climate goals set under
by a pandemic-induced recession. the Paris Agreement, which strives to keep temperatures from
There’s a chance coal power never rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels
has to breach 2018 levels again if the in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change. That’s
Indian government meets its renew- especially true for China and India, the largest and third-largest
able energy goals, Ember senior emitters of greenhouse gases respectively. While advanced
analyst Aditya Lolla wrote. ‘As India economies like the U.S. and U.K. have had more time to devel-
recovers from the Covid-19 pandem- op alternatives, countries like India and China have to make the
ic shock, the choices it makes for its switch more quickly. Solar power is now the cheapest source of
power sector can make or break its electricity in most parts of India, offering an opportunity for the
government to accelerate adoption. India could speed up the
coal-to-clean electricity transition in
transition by placing a moratorium on new coal power plants
the next decade,’ he wrote. ‘It’s even
and incentivizing the closure of old, inefficient facilities, Lolla
possible coal will fall this decade, if wrote in the report. That would require the government to shift
India wants it to.’ its current policies, which saw the government auctioning new
coal mines as recently as November.

india
POWER INTERRUPTIONS IN ANDHRA PRADESH COME DOWN BY 35

PER CENT IN A YEAR
With concerted efforts in strengthening the existing 24×7 power supply infrastructure, the energy department has managed to bring down the power
interruptions significantly by about 35 per cent from 3.91 lakh in 2019-20 to 2.54 lakh in 2020-21. The department is working to further strengthen the
A
infrastructure to bring down the interruptions to as low as possible.
ccording to information available with the
energy department, APEPDCL has seen the
highest drop in the interruptions from 1.24
lakh to 28,663 in a year’s time, followed
by APSPDCL from 1.28 lakh to 1 lakh and
APCPDCL from 1.39 lakh to 1.26 lakh. The
officials said that government attached high-
est priority to 24×7 uninterrupted and reliable
power supply. “The continuous measures
taken by power utilities as per directions of
State government have helped to reduce in-
terruptions significantly. We see a significant
improvement in power supply and consum-
er’s satisfaction in the State. The government
wants to achieve 100 per cent excellence in
uninterrupted power supply at international
standards to every household in the State,”
a senior APTRANSCO official said. As part
of this, the power utilities have laid special
focus on strengthening of power infrastruc-
ture including upgrading of electricity substa-
tions, strengthening of distribution networks,
especially in rural areas and providing of
additional infrastructure for agriculture supply
during day time. APTRANSCO has also de-
veloped and deployed the country’s first day- The department is also planning to develop four more
ahead Electricity Demand Forecasting model day-ahead forecast models for wind energy, solar
that would help to take the right decisions on energy, market prices, Central Generating Stations
electricity demand. surplus and frequency.
PUNJAB’S SETS UP IST SOLAR-BASED WATER SUPPLY PROJECT AT

JAGRAWAN-MURADPUR & TALWARA VILLAGES
In bid to ensure uninterrupted potable water supply in rural areas in state, Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation department has set up first of its kind
B
solar-based water supply projects at Jagrawan-Muradpur and Talwara villages of Jalandhar district under “Har Ghar Paani, Har Ghar Safai” mission.
esides, installing 150 meter deep tube-wells, said
an official spokesperson, adding that 25000 litres
capacity water tanks have been constructed to
provide piped water supply to every household in
these villages. The solar-based pilot projects were
commissioned at a cost of Rs 67.71 lakh. Now, the
panchayats of these villages are not paying any
electricity bill for water supply projects and the same
amount, which was earlier spent for paying electric-
ity bills, is being utilized for development works of
the villages. Expressing gratitude towards Chief
Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for the solar-based
water supply project, Jagrawan village Sarpanch
Harjit Kaur said that the panchayat and residents of
the village felt relieved as electricity bills have come
down to zero. Similarly, clean water supply has
started reaching every household of Talwara and
Muradpur villages. With the successful commission-
ing of these projects 141 households of Jagrawan
and Muradpur and 102 households of Talwara vil-
lage have benefited.

india
RENEW POWER EYES US LISTING

VIA SPAC AT $4 BN VALUATION
The company, one of India’s largest renewable energy firms, is in talks to
merge with RMG Acquisition owned by Nasdaq-listed SPAC Riverside Capital
R
Management, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.
eNew Power Pvt. Ltd is planning to
list its shares in the US through the
fast-emerging SPAC (special purpose
acquisition company) route at a valu-
ation of almost $4 billion, two people
aware of the development said.
The company, one of India’s largest
renewable energy firms, is in talks to
merge with RMG Acquisition owned
by Nasdaq-listed SPAC Riverside
Capital Management, the people
cited above said on condition of ano-
nymity. ReNew Power had shelved
its Indian initial public offering plan Emails sent to Riverside and ReNew Power remained un-
in 2019 amid market volatility. As per answered, while a Goldman Sachs spokesperson declined to
Securities Exchange Commission comment. ReNew is one of India’s largest renewable energy
rules, while Riverside will hold up to independent power producers with a capacity of 10.14GW, of
20% in the newly listed avatar of Re- which 5.73GW is operational. For the April-September 2020
New Power, Goldman Sachs along period, ReNew Power’s total income stood at ₹782.5 crore as
with CPPIB, ADIA and the company’s compared to ₹576.6 crore for the same period in 2019. Its total
founder-cum-chairman Sumant Sinha loss ballooned to ₹230.4 crore during April-September as com-
will hold the rest 80%, one of the two pared to ₹26.7 crore in the year-ago period. Since the outbreak
people cited above said. of covid, the SPAC market has become popular as issuers worry
that the conventional IPO market could take many months to
“The due diligence process for the listing of ReNew recover. Data from Refinitiv, a data analytics firm, shows 126
Power through SPAC has already begun and once com- SPAC IPOs raised $44 billion in the first nine months of 2020,
pleted, it will mark the largest ever listing of an Indian which is more than three times the sum raised during the same
company in the US through SPAC route,” this person period in 2019, as corporate value creators and investors seek
said. “In the case of ReNew Power, SPAC Riverside to dodge the volatility and uncertainty of the traditional listing
is expected to put in $300 million through equity and process.
another $150 million through warrants.”
HARYANA ISSUES SOPS FOR FARMERS REGARDING SUBSIDIES FOR

MICRO-IRRIGATION
(UNI) With a purpose to eliminate scarcity of water for farming across the state, the Haryana government has issued Standard Operating Procedures
H
(SOPs) for farmers regarding subsidies being offered for micro-irrigation.
aryana Chief Minister The first scheme is for Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) and Canal
Manohar Lal Khattar had Based Projects with ingredients like auxiliary infrastructure (STP Canal/
recently launched a portal Water course), on-farm pond, installation of solar pumps and on-farm
with multi-faceted objec- MI (drip/sprinkler). The second Scheme is for Canal based projects with
tives primarily to enhance ingredients like auxiliary infrastructure (water course), on-farm pond,
socio-economic status installation of solar pumps and on-farm MI (drip/sprinkler).
of farmers and to bridge The third scheme is for those where sources of water include
gap between the irriga- tubewell, overflowing ponds, on-farm tanks and on-farm MI (drip/
tion potential created and sprinkler). Meanwhile, Upfront Undertaking in shape of affidavit for
irrigation potential utilized through micro level in- adoption of 100 per cent M.I. (drip & sprinkler installation) with on-
frastructure development. The SOPs for the same farm pond is mandatory for first scheme, he added. Divulging details
have been issued according to which passport size of the subsidy being provided, the spokesperson said there will be
photo, personal details, bank details, address and a contribution of 30 per cent of total expenditure by the farmer for
Parivaar Pehchan Patra (Family ID) of the person On-Farm pond construction with subsidy of 70 per cent. Also, there
seeking subsidy is required. Sharing more details, will be a contribution of 25 per cent by farmer for installation of solar
an official spokesperson of the Micro Irrigation pump with capacity ranging from 2 HP to 10 HP at 75 per cent sub-
and Command Area Development Authority (MI- sidy. Also a contribution of 15 per cent plus GST by farmer On-Farm
CADA) said in this ‘micro-irrigation initiative’ three MI cost (Drip and Sprinkler) with 85 per cent subsidy (in accordance
schemes are being offered to the farmers. with PMKSY guidelines 2018-2019.

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ARBL TO SET UP RS 220 CRORE SOLAR POWER PLANT IN

ANDHRA PRADESH
Amara Raja Batteries Ltd (ARBL) is setting up a 50 megawatt solar power plant in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh at a total outlay of Rs 220 crore
T
to support its sustainability initiatives.
his will further reduce cost of power
and simultaneously bring down the
company’s carbon footprint, it said in
a statement. Besides, as part of the
overall lead procurement strategy,
ARBL will set up a greenfield lead
recycling unit with a capacity of one
lakh tonnes.
This will help the company comply The rebounding of economy is improving prospects of various
with recycling standards while adopt- market segments, especially those in which the company is
ing advance technology in the most operating. The government has also announced many initia-
environmentally friendly manner. The tives and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, which
total capital outlay for this project is will accelerate the growth of e-mobility and renewable energy
expected to be Rs 280 crore over the next markets. “We are assessing investment opportunities in ad-
18 months.” Jayadev Galla, Vice Chair- vanced and futuristic energy storage technologies to address
man and Managing Director, said the these emerging market segments,” said Galla. ARBL reported
economy has started showing sharper net revenue from operations at Rs 1,960 crore in Q3 FY21 as
signs of recovery with reduction in Covid compared to Rs 1,748 crore in the corresponding period of last
prevalence and ongoing vaccination fiscal. The profit before tax totalled Rs 260 crore as against Rs
drive boosting industry confidence. 217 crore in Q3 FY20.
INDIA TO SEE $500-BILLION INVESTMENT

IN RENEWABLES BY 2030: IEEFA REPORT
India is set to see investments to the tune of around $500 billion in the renewables sector if the country has to achieve the target of 450 gigawatts
T
(GW) of capacity by 2030, said a report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
he report highlighted that a huge global capital pool is
mobilising to invest in renewable energy and grid projects The country’s untapped renewable po-
in India, with pull factors including solar power tariffs hit- tential at 900 gigawatt (GW) is the most in
ting record lows, plunging solar module costs, record low- the world. It is estimated that India’s peak
interest rates, and the security of government-backed, 25- power demand will rise to 295GW by 2021-22
year power purchase agreements (PPAs). The renewable and 690GW by 2035. “Domestic and global
energy sector in India has received more than $42 billion institutions across the financial, corporate,
in investment since 2014. energy, utility and government sectors are
primed to deploy a wall of capital that India
needs to fund its ambitious renewable energy
targets,” he added. This includes the capital
cost of adding more than 300GW of new re-
newables infrastructure, firming low-cost but
intermittent renewable power generation, and
We estimate that striving for 450 gigawatts of renewable expanding and modernising grid transmission
energy by 2030 would require deploying $500 billion of and distribution. The sources of capital range
investment over the coming decade – $300 billion for wind from private equity, global pensions funds
and solar infrastructure, $50 billion on grid firming invest- and sovereign wealth funds, to oil and gas
ments such as gas-peakers, hydro and batteries, and $150 majors, multinational development banks and
billion on expanding and modernising transmission and dis- Indian state-owned enterprises and power
tribution, said Tim Buckley, Director Energy Finance Studies, billionaires, the report added.
South Asia, at the IEEFA.

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PUNE FAMILY PAYS RS. 70/MONTH IN

ELECTRICITY BILL, RUNS HOME & 4 EVS
ON SOLAR POWER
In 2004, Abhishek Mane, a resident of Pune decided to quit his job at the Ministry of Defence and start a business of his own. With his deep concern for
the environment as well as his interest in technology, he decided to venture into a business that manufactures and installs solar panels.
I spent several years learning about solar energy, how to instal pan-
els and harness energy. I also worked closely with people in the solar
industry to learn how the panels are manufactured, says Abhishek.
He launched his business, Deeva Solar Power Solutions, in 2015 with
his sister Deepali Shinde. A manufacturing unit to make the solar
panels and other necessary parts was also set up in Pune.
But apart from launching a business related to solar energy,
Abhishek also installed several panels to power all the appli-
ances in his home. To date, kitchen appliances, the television,
washing machine, and water pumps, as well as vehicles such
as cars and bikes are powered by solar energy. “For a family of
four adults and one child, our electricity bill was a minimum of
Rs 5,000/ month. Now, we pay Rs 70/ month,” says Abhishek.
THE PROCESS SWITCHING TO A GREENER LIFE
Early in 2016, Abhishek decided that if he was running a busi- To ensure a seamless use of energy, the family prepared
ness that sold solar energy material, then he should believe in the a schedule. During the day, when there is direct sunlight,
product himself. So he spoke to other members of his family and they would use heavy appliances such as the washing
explained to them that their house would become environmentally- machine, water pump, other kitchen appliances to finish
conscious if they switched to solar energy. “The change was their chores and charge one EV. Then, the batteries are
gradual. We did not do it overnight. Initially, we spent a few months given a few hours to charge, and at night, the stored
consciously reducing our energy consumption. From ensuring we power is used to charge the other two scooters. “The
turn off the lights when necessary to rationing the amount of water Okinawa electric scooters take four hours to fully charge
we use, our family slowly made big changes in our behaviour,” says and can go up to 100 kilometers. The electric car, Ma-
Abhishek. hindra e2o, is charged every three days, as the usage is
He also identified appliances, such as the refrigerator, that were lesser compared to the scooters. While petrol prices are
consuming a lot of energy and switched to a version that consumes as high as Rs. 98/ litre, I feel comforted knowing I spend
less. Once the family agreed to the switch, Abhishek installed 10 less than 40 paise every km and pay only Rs. 70 as
panels of 250 watts to produce 2.5KW of energy every day. This my electricity bill,” says Abhishek. It has now been four
system was directly connected to the grid and a battery that stores years and the family continues to use only solar energy
energy, which the family uses to charge their electric vehicles and for all their needs. Abhishek says that many people fear
power appliances at night. “In 2019, we removed a few panels and the conversion to electric vehicles because of range
added 330 watts panels, and now the system produces 7KW of en- anxiety. But, he believes using EVs is like using a smart-
ergy every day. We added the extra panel so that we could charge phone. “If you want to use it the next day, charge it at
the car,” says Abhishek. The energy is stored among four lead- night,” says Abhishek, adding that through his company,
acid batteries that have a capacity of 12 V & 200 AH. It is supplied Deeva Solar Power Solutions, he has helped more than
across various appliances and electrical outlets through inverters. 500 households go green.

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INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE SPECIAL ASSEMBLY ELECTS DR

AJAY MATHUR AS NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL
A coalition of 73 member countries, ISA was established at the end of 2015 to accelerate the demand for and use of safe, sustainable, and affordable
solar energy for all. It aims to mobilize over USD 1 trillion of investment into solar projects by 2030 through focused advocacy, policy and regulatory
support, capacity building, and by overcoming perceived investment barriers. Dr. Mathur replaces Mr. Upendra Tripathy, who has served as Director
D
General since the ISA was founded in 2015.
r. Mathur’s leadership
appointment to the ISA
takes place in a year when
addressing global climate
change transition com- Ms Barbara Pompili, Minister for Ecological Transition
mitments will take center of the French Republic and ISA Co-President added:
stage: 2021 started with “At a time when we have reached a new milestone
the US’s renewed climate with the recent decision to open ISA membership to
focus through the Biden all UN Member countries, France, as co-President of
administration and will culminate with COP26, the ISA, extends its full support to Dr. Mathur. We are fully
UN’s Climate Change Conference in the UK in confident that he is the right person to further the
November. As the sole multilateral forum dedi- development of ISA, particularly through its univer-
cated to solar energy transition and building upon salization, robust governance and support to concrete
existing milestones, including pooling resources initiatives to facilitate solar power deployment, such
across its members, and creating economies of as the ‘STAR-C’ program.”
scale to reduce the cost for clean energy, ISA is
poised to renew its commitment towards global
solar transition through the new leadership.
Mr. R.K. Singh, Minister for Power and New and Re-
newable Energy for India and ISA President, said: “The
Speaking at the ISA’s special ISA has grown to become an able global body working
assembly, Dr. Mathur, said: effectively towards energy access, energy security and
“I am honored to lead the energy transition. I look forward to working construc-
International Solar Alliance tively under our new Director General and alongside
and am ambitious about other esteemed Members to take this important man-
what we can achieve together date forward against a backdrop of growing support
with our members and part- around the world for the low-carbon transition.”
ners to transition to a safer,
sustainable, equitable and
more prosperous future for
all through solar energy. “ISA
has a vital role to help estab-
lish the infrastructure and
COP26 President Alok Sharma said: “I am delight-
ecosystem for a zero-carbon
ed that Dr Ajay Mathur, an invaluable friend of
emission future. With strong
COP26, is taking up this important post. The Inter-
foundations already in place,
national Solar Alliance has been a key partner in
my immediate focus is to identify and mobilize
driving the international collaboration we need to
the opportunities and capital to accelerate our
a low carbon future, and I look forward to working
solarization goals in the interim and long-term.”
together ahead of COP26 this November.”
Dr. Mathur who will take over the leadership
of ISA on March 15, brings a wealth of leader-
ship expertise across all key areas of energy
transition, from policy, research, and technology
commercialization to financing, international co-
operation and institutional development. Currently Outgoing Director General Mr. Upendra Tripathy
Director General of The Energy and Resources
commented: “I am grateful to all the member
Institute (TERI), a key driver of the energy transi-
countries for their trust and support over the past
tion to renewables and reduction in urban air pol-
lution for the past five years, Dr. Mathur has held
five years which has seen ISA grow from an idea
leadership appointments at the Bureau of Energy to the go-to international organization on solar
Efficiency and the Green Climate Fund. In 2020, energy that it is today. It is so pleasing to see more
he received an IconSWM-CE Lifetime Achieve- and more countries joining the ISA to work to-
ment Award for his contribution to environmental gether to pool efforts and resources to bring solar
protection. to the next level.”

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INDIA TO BE BIGGEST DRIVER OF GLOBAL ENERGY DEMAND

GROWTH IN NEXT 2 DECADES: IEA
India will be the main driver of rising demand for energy over the next two decades, accounting for 25% of global growth, and is set to overtake the
European Union as the world’s third-biggest energy consumer by 2030, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said. India’s energy consumption is expect-
ed to nearly double as the nation’s gross domestic product expands to an estimated $8.6 trillion by 2040 under its current national policy scenario, the
IEA said in its India Energy Outlook 2021 released
“This is underpinned by a rate of GDP growth that adds the equivalent of another Japan to the world economy by 2040,” said the
I
IEA, the energy agency and policy adviser for members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
ndia’s growing energy needs will make it more reliant on fossil fuel The share of solar energy in India’s power
imports as its domestic oil and gas production has been stagnant for generation could equal coal-fired output
years despite government policies to promote petroleum exploration by 2040, the IEA said. Coal currently domi-
and production and renewable energy. India’s oil demand is expect- nates India’s electricity sector, accounting
ed to rise to 8.7 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2040 from about 5 for over 70% of overall generation with
million bpd in 2019, the IEA said, while its refining capacity will reach only about 4% produced through solar.
6.4 million bpd by 2030 and 7.7 million bpd by 2040, from 5 million The world’s fourth-largest LNG importer,
bpd. It will be the world’s third-biggest energy consumer, behind Chi- which ships in about half of its natural gas
na and the United States, by 2030. The world’s second-biggest net needs by tanker currently, is spending
oil importer, behind China, currently imports about 76% of its crude billions of dollars to build infrastructure
oil needs. That reliance on overseas oil is expected to rise to 90% to boost use of the cleaner fuel. Liquefied
by 2030 and 92% by 2040, the IEA said. Rising oil demand could natural gas (LNG) imports are expected
double India’s oil import bill to about $181 billion by 2030 and nearly to quadruple to 124 billion cubic metres
treble it to $255 billion by 2040 compared with 2019, the IEA said. (bcm), or about 61% of overall gas demand
India, a signatory to the Paris climate accord, wants to boost power by 2040, IEA said. That would be up from
generation through renewables, mainly solar, and raise the share of imports of 76 bcm, or about 58% of gas
natural gas in its energy mix to 15% by 2030 from 6.2% currently. consumption by 2030.
IN A FIRST FOR COUNTRY’S CIVIC BODIES, BMC

GIVES NOD TO SET UP HYBRID POWER PLANT
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) cleared a proposal of setting up a hybrid power plant at the middle of the Vaitarna dam, becoming the
T
first civic body in the country to take up a power project.
he standing committee passed
a proposal of appointing a joint
venture between Shapoorji Pal-
lonji & Company and Mahalaxmi
Konal Urja to set up the hybrid solar
power plant. While the hydroelectric
power plant, which has been long in
planning, will have a capacity of 20
MW, the floating solar photovoltaic
power plant can generate as much
as 80 MW. The project will take 31
months to complete. Of the total
100 MW, the civic body has planned
to augment the power supply in its
offices. As per the proposal, 208
million units of electricity can be
generated by the plant, which will
help the civic body in saving Rs 24
crore on power bills with the help of
this project. The BMC has inked an
agreement with these companies to
buy electricity at the rate of Rs 4.75
per unit for the next 25 years. The
BMC will not have to spend money
on setting up these solar plants as
the company finalised will bear the
cost and then sell the electricity.

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RAJASTHAN SEC RECOMMENDS 1.18 LAKH CRORE INVESTMENT IN

RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR
The recommendations were made in the 33rd meeting of the SEC held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary. The proposals are from varied sectors
E
like Energy, Textile and Manufacturing Sectors assuring to generate more than 30,000 job opportunities in the state, said a statement.
arlier, a Board of Investment under Chair- The state government said that now it is an accepted fact
manship of Chief Minister has been con- that introduction of investor-friendly policies/schemes
stituted under the provisions of Rajasthan like The Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS)
Enterprises Single Window Enabling and 2019, Rajasthan Industrial Policy-2019 and the Rajasthan
Clearance (Amendment) Act, 2020. It was Solar Energy Policy 2019 and the Rajasthan Wind and
the first SEC meeting since the constitution Hybrid Energy Policy 2019 have given a positive message to
of the Board of Investment. These proposals the investors looking to invest in the State. The proposed
shall now be submitted for final decision be-
Integrated Renewable Energy Storage Project (IRESP) will
fore the newly constituted Board of Invest-
be the first of its kind renewable energy project with the
ment under Chairmanship of Chief Minister, said a government
note. The investors have expressed confidence in the invest-
storage component. The project proposes to store excess
ment opportunities in state and policies of the state government solar energy available during the day with help of hydro
under the leadership of the Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot. pumps. The energy can be reclaimed during peak hours
The proposals recommended in the 33rd SEC meeting also or night time when solar energy is unavailable. A project
present possibilities for the emergence of new opportunities for IC/Semi-Conductor Packaging Unit which will be the
and more sustainable development in the state and also mark first industry in the semiconductor sector in the state. The
a point that Renewable Energy is one of the booming sectors semiconductor components are an integral part of the vast
in the State. The proposals in the Renewable energy Sector in- expanding mobile phone and computing devices, most of
cluded a 10 GW solar power project intending an investment of these are still being imported in India.
Rs 48,540 crore, a 10 GW Solar-Wind Hybrid renewable energy The government said that Rajasthan has ample oppor-
project with proposed investment of Rs 40,000 crore and, an In- tunities in the sector and the pioneering project can help in
tegrated renewable energy storage project to be developed with the emergence of the sector. Investor informed that India
an investment of Rs 30,000 crore, which will come in a phased will be the 5th country in the world with this kind of technol-
manner in the coming years. ogy.
DELHI TRANSPORT DEPT ISSUES NOTICE TO TATA MOTORS OVER

COMPLAINT FROM E-CAR OWNER
The Delhi transport department has issued a show-cause notice to Tata Motors, seeking its reply in connection with a complaint
that one of its electric car models failed to meet the specified range on a single charge, officials said. The complainant claimed that
the model (Nexon EV) of the electric car purchased by him from a dealer at the Safdarjung Enclave and registered on December 3,
I
2020 has failed to provide the specified 312-km range on a single charge, a senior transport department officer said.
t has been informed that while the vehicle model is The electric car model under question was approved
specified to provide a 312-km range on a single charge, under the eligibility conditions of the Delhi EV Policy.
the vehicle owned by the said customer has never A Tata Motors spokesperson said the notice was
provided a range of more than 200 km,” the show- received and “all possible measures” are being taken
cause notice issued to Tata Motors read. The vehicle to address the concern. The range specified on a
owner, a resident of Najafgarh, also claimed that he single full charge (312 km) for Nexon EV is on the
has “duly followed” various advices of the dealer but no basis of the certification received from the Automo-
improvement was noticed, despite best efforts. “There- tive Research Association of India (ARAI), which is
fore, a show-cause notice is issued as the vehicle has the official body that independently tests all mass-
failed to provide an optimal range to the consumer as promised by produced vehicles under standard test conditions,
the OEM (original equipment manufacturer,” the notice said. The before those can be offered to customers, he said.
notice has directed the OEM to depute its representative to appear The actual range achieved in EVs is dependent on
before a transport department officer at 12 noon on February 15. the usage of the air-conditioner, individual driving
In case no representative of the OEM appears before the transport style and the actual conditions in which the vehicle
officer on the designated date and time, further action including is driven. The range achievement is also a function
“delisting” of the said model from the subsidy-eligible e-vehicles’ of familiarity with the new technology and customers
list can be considered, the notice stated. According to the Delhi report improvements upwards of 10 per cent within
Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, notified by the transport department four to six weeks of familiarity, he said. “Since its
on August 7, 2020, a purchase incentive of Rs 10,000 per kWh of launch a year ago, Nexon EV has consistently grown
battery capacity is provided on buying an electric four-wheeler with in popularity to become India’s highest-selling elec-
a cap of Rs 1,50,000 per vehicle. The owners of the first 1,000 e- tric vehicle with nearly 3,000 families enjoying the
cars to be registered in Delhi after the issuance of the policy will be pleasure of owning and driving it,” the Tata Motors
eligible for the incentive, officials said. spokesperson added.

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PLI SCHEME FOR SOLAR PV TO SPUR ₹14,000-CR INVESTMENT

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for high-efficiency solar PV modules will spur investments of
over ₹14,000 crore and build a manufacturing capacity of 10 GW.
“The government’s approach for the energy sector is guid-
ed by four R’s: reach, reinforce, reform, and renewable,”
Modi said. The pathway “For reach, last mile connectivity
is needed. This reach needs to be reinforced by installa-
We want to see our companies become tion capacity, for that reforms are needed. Along with all
global manufacturing champions, not this renewable energy is the demand of the time,” he said.
just fulfil local demands, Modi said at a For reach, the government is focussed on reaching every
webinar. The Government is committed village and every household, Modi added. “With regard to
to invest ₹4,500 crore in the scheme. “This capacity reinforcement, India has become a power surplus
is likely to increase demand for locally country from a power deficit country while reforms like
produced materials like EVA, solar glass, the UDAY scheme and PGCIL’s asset monetisation have
backsheet, and junction box,” he said. improved the financials of the sector,” he said.
POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR DISCOMS IN THE

OFFING: PM MODI
Asserting that reforms in the regulatory and process framework have significantly “improved” the outlook towards the power sector, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said the Centre is working to remove problems in the distribution sector and a policy and regulatory framework for DISCOMs is in the
offing.
Consumers should be able to choose their supplier according

to performance like any other retail commodity, he said at a
webinar for consultation towards effective implementation
of the Union Budget provisions in the power and renewable
energy sector, the Prime Minister’s Office (PM) said in a state-
ment. Modi said the government treats power as a separate
sector and not as part of the industry sector, while adding that
the Centre’s approach towards it has been holistic and guided
by the four mantras of “reach, reinforce, reform and renewable
energy”. He noted that the renewable energy capacity of the
country has been enhanced by two-and-a-half times in the
last six years and the solar energy capacity by 15 times. “This
year’s budget has shown unprecedented commitment towards
investment in infrastructure. This is evident in mission hydro-
gen, domestic manufacturing of solar cells and massive capital The government is focussed on reaching every village
R
and every household, and India has become a power-
infusion in the renewable energy sector,” Modi said.
surplus country from a power-deficit country, he said.
eferring to the PLI (performance-linked In recent years, the country has added 139 gigawatts
incentive) scheme, he said high-effi- capacity and reached the goal of one nation-one grid-one
ciency solar PV modules are now part frequency, the prime minister pointed out. Reforms like
of it and the government is commit- the UDAY scheme with the issuance of bonds worth Rs
ted to investing Rs 4,500 crore in this. 2.32 lakh crore were undertaken to improve financial and
Modi hoped for a massive response to operational efficiencies, he said, adding, “For monetis-
the scheme. Under the PLI scheme, ing the assets of the Powergrid, Infrastructure Invest-
integrated solar PV manufacturing plants ment Trust — InvIT was established, which will soon be
with a capacity of 10,000 MW will be open for investors.” Modi said work is on to make the
operationalised with an estimated investment of Rs 14,000 distribution sector free of entry barriers and licensing for
crore. This is likely to increase demand for locally produced distribution and supply. Efforts are underway for prepaid
materials such as EVA, solar glass, backsheet and junc- smart metres, feeder separation and system upgradation,
tion box. “We want to see our companies to become global he added. Under the PM KUSUM scheme, farmers are
manufacturing champions, not just to fulfil local demands,” the becoming energy entrepreneurs and the goal is to create
prime minister said. The government has indicated its com- 30-GW solar capacity through small plants in their fields,
mitment of additional capital infusion worth Rs 1,000 crore in the prime minister said. Already, 4-GW solar capacity is
the Solar Energy Corporation of India to promote investments installed through rooftop solar projects and 2.5 GW will
in the renewable energy sector. Similarly, the Indian Renew- be added soon. In the next one-and-a-half years, 40-GW
able Energy Development Agency (IREDA) will get additional solar power is aimed through rooftop solar projects, he
investments worth Rs 1,500 crore. added.

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INDIA’S CATCH-22: COAL USE SET TO BOOM AS RE-

NEWABLE WAVE CAN’T KEEP UP WITH ELECTRIFICA-
TION GROWTH
Indian power generation from coal fell to a five-year low of “just” 1,064 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2020 due to the Covid-19-induced slowdown. This was
only a dip, however, as coal still makes up a gigantic 70% of the country’s total electricity production and is set to come back with a vengeance, grow-
ing by 43% to 1,523 TWh in 2037, when Rystad Energy expects coal power to finally peak.
A
s surprising as the projection may be to some, New solar and wind projects are projected to ac-
such a surge in coal consumption is not that celerate the growth of India’s renewable power
unexpected. India’s power generation is set generation. Rystad Energy expects electricity
to grow exponentially to 3,565 TWh by 2037, produced by solar PV to grow to 65 TWh in 2021
more than double 2020’s figure. Electricity from 55 TWh in 2020, and then rise further to 128
production will already exceed 2,000 TWh TWh through 2025 and 233 TWh in 2030. Power
from 2025 and is set to breach the 3,000 TWh generated by onshore wind turbines, from 69 TWh
ceiling from 2034 as a result of an electrifi- in 2020, is set to rise to 82 TWh in 2021 and 143
cation boost and economic growth. In fact, TWh in 2025. In 2030, produced electricity from
Rystad Energy expects India’s electricity generation to increase with this source is expected at 254 TWh. Solar power
an average annual growth of 4.2%, effectively tripling its current level production will continue to grow even more after
over the next 30 years. The outlook is not all grim for clean electricity, 2030, but as onshore wind is also set for a mas-
though. Today’s power mix will be unrecognizable in three decades sive boost, solar will only overtake onshore wind
as the government pushes for greener initiatives. Rystad Energy towards the end of 2050, Rystad Energy projects.
forecasts all renewable sources grouped together (wind, solar, hydro, The only fossil fuel to see an uninterrupted rise
and biofuels/waste) will surpass fossil fuels in India’s total power in use towards 2050 is gas, even though its share
generation by 2038. Further out, we expect solar to outcompete coal will never become a significant one for India.
by 2050 in terms of the largest share in the power mix. Rystad Energy expects gas-generated electricity
to rise to 73 TWh in 2021 from 71 TWh in 2020, and
then reach 85 TWh in 2025 and 128 TWh in 2030
– by which time it will make up about 5% of the
total power mix. Many countries around the world
are relying on gas to transition away from coal
India has made some progress in meeting sustainable development and into renewables. However, given the limited
goals and its government has set ambitious targets. However, even access to gas supplies and the country’s eco-
though it has huge potential for clean power generation, our view is nomic dependence on the coal industry, India is
that in the short term its renewable targets are too ambitious. It may expected to continue to use coal power to provide
take a bit longer, but eventually we will see renewable power domi- stability for the exponential growth in renewable
nate, says Fabian Rønningen, gas and power analyst at Rystad Energy. power generation.

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PM DEDICATES 1,000 MW NNTPS, 709 MW SOLAR

PROJECTS TO NATION
N
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, dedicated to the Nation, the 1000 MW lignite based Neyveli New Thermal Power Station.
NTPS) at Neyveli and 709 MW Solar
Power Projects of NLC India Lim-
ited, located at four Districts of Tamil
Nadu through Video Conferencing
from Codissia Trade Fare Complex,
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Banwarilal
Purohit, Governor of Tamil Nadu,
Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Chief
Minister of Tamil Nadu, Pralhad Joshi,
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal & Mines, O. Pan-
neerselvam, Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, other senior
officials from State and Central Governments and CMD and
Functional Directors of NLCIL were present on the occasion.
While addressing the gathering after dedicating the 1000 MW
lignite based Neyveli New Thermal Power Station (NNTPS)
and 709 MW Solar Power Projects of NLC India Limited,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need for uninter-
rupted power supply for Industrial Growth and expressed his
happiness in dedicating two major power projects of NLCIL,
one 1000 MW (2×500) Lignite based Thermal Power Station
He praised NLCIL on making a huge foray in renewable
in Neyveli at a cost of Rs 7,800 crores that supply over 65 per
energy sector by becoming the first CPSE to achieve
cent of its generated capacity to the state of Tamil Nadu and
1 GW capacity in solar and for the 1000 MW Thermal
the 709 MW capacity Solar Power projects of NLCIL at a cost
Power Station at Neyveli having two lignite-fired units
of over 3000 crores in the Districts of Tirunelveli, Ramanatha-
of 500 MW each, the first of its kind in India with state of
puram, Virudhunagar and Thoothukudi of Tamil Nadu, the sole
art environment friendly Ash Handling System designed
beneficiary. He lauded NLCIL for completing these projects
for 100% Ash utilisation. O Pannerselvam, Deputy Chief
that energise the state and realize the “National Solar Mis-
Minister of Tamil Nadu welcomed the dignitaries and
sion” and Government’s Mission of “Power to All”.
gathering.
While addressing, Pralhad Joshi, Union

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal & Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Chief Minister
Mines complimented NLCIL for doubling of Tamil Nadu in his address highlighted
its Mining capacity in three years and the details of projects that are to be inau-
increasing the power generation capac- gurated / dedicated by the Prime Minister
ity by 65 per cent in the last six years. He and its benefits to the State of Tamil Nadu.
appreciated NLC India in inducting 750 Prime Minister who was in the City of
contract workmen into regular roles of the Coimbatore had also inaugurated various
company this year and completing two Government schemes of Tamil Nadu Gov-
Wage settlements benefiting 9000 regular ernment from the same venue.
workmen and 15000 contract workmen.

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NAGALAND POWER REQUIREMENT EXPECTED TO

REACH 550 MW BY 2025
Though Nagaland is endowed with numerous hydro-potential sites, many are yet to be exploited due to lack of adequate funding to develop the sites.
Due to this, even after completion of 50 years of existence, the State power department has not been able to make much headway in the area of
development of power projects, according to the Department of Power Nagaland (DoPN) Annual Administrative Report 2020-21 tabled in the recently
A
concluded State assembly session.
t present (2020-2021), the peak-off peak demand The report stated that the department is also
of the state is 179 Mega Watts (MW) and 120 MW actively moving forward for installation of
respectively, the report stated. It also added that the solar power plants with the National Solar
State’s power requirement by 2025 is expected to Mission with Solar Parks and Rooftop Solar
reach 550 MW. With negligible generation of its own, installations in the State with a target to
the State has to depend mostly on the central sector achieve 61MW by 2022. The department has
allocation of about 155MW and the rest from Energy commissioned 9 small/mini/micro Hydro Elec-
Market which can be very expensive. So far, the state tric Projects (HEPs) so far with a total installed
has been able to develop only one major project i.e capacity of 29.658 MW in line with Govern-
Likimro HEP which is of 24 MW. The projects which
ment of India (GoI) policy of capacity addition.
have been successfully commissioned and in opera-
Out of this, 26 MW installed capacity is grid
tion are 24 MW Likimro HEP in Kiphire, 1 MW Tehok
HEP in Mon and 1 MW Lang HEP in Tuensang.
connected from 24MW Likimro HEP, 1 MW Te-
The total energy generated by these projects during hok Small Hydro Project and I MW Lang Small
2020-21 (Up to January 2021) is 58 million units Hydro Project. The remaining old projects are
(MU), the report stated. operated in isolation mode, the report added.

business & finance
ASHOK LEYLAND PICKS 26% STAKE IN

PRATHAMA SOLARCONNECT FOR
RS 19 CR
According to a Crisil report last September, the group is currently developing 75 Mw (about 40 per cent of overall capacity) of group captive solar
H
power plant under PSEPL for Ashok Leyland.
induja Group’s flagship company
Ashok Leyland Ltd (ALL) has invested
Rs 18.66 crore in Prathama Solarcon-
nect Energy Private Limited, for a 26
per cent stake in the company’s paid-
up share capital. Prathama Solarcon-
nect Energy is part of the Hinduja
Renew group, and is engaged in solar
power generation business. The
company has reported a loss of Rs 76.97 lakh in 2019-20. Ac-
cording to a Crisil report last September, the group is currently
developing 75 Mw (about 40 per cent of overall capacity) of
group captive solar power plant under PSEPL for Ashok Ley-
land. Therefore, the group remains exposed to stabilisation
and implementation related risks for this project. However, its
track record of calibrated expansion strategy with a prudent
funding mix, and group support aid the business risk profile.
Moreover, expansion is backed by strong visibility for evacu-
ation and PPA, said in the group. Further, the group plans to
set up over 75-85 Mw of solar projects over the medium term,
and aims to achieve overall one gigawatt of solar capacity in
the long run, said Crisil.
GOLDMAN-BACKED RENEW POWER IS

SAID TO NEAR DEAL WITH RMG II SPAC
The deal would give Goldman Sachs Group Inc.-backed ReNew an enterprise value of $8 billion, said the people, who asked not to be identified because
A
they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.
n $855 million private placement to support The prospective merger would extend a wave of
the transaction is being raised from investors clean-tech SPAC deals in the U.S. and expand it to
including serial dealmaker Chamath Paliha- include India’s growing renewables market. ReNew
pitiya, TT International Asset Management, a is positioned to benefit from India’s surging electric-
fund managed by BNP Paribas SA, funds and ity demand as the country pushes to slash emissions
accounts managed by BlackRock Inc. and Syl- and improve air quality. India is aiming to use green
ebra Capital, the people said. Representatives sources for 40% of its energy needs by 2030, Prime
for RMG II, ReNew and BlackRock declined to
Minister Narendra Modi said last week. ReNew now
comment. Other investors in the PIPE didn’t im-
has more than five gigawatts of operational clean-
mediately respond to requests for comment. ReNew’s plan to go public
through a deal with RMG was reported earlier by the Indian newspaper
power capacity
Mint. RMG, sponsored by Riverside Management Group, raised $345 A huge build-out of renewables as the nation
million in its initial public offering including so-called greenshoe shares targets 450 gigawatts of capacity over the next
in December. It’s part of an unprecedented surge in listings by special decade — up from about 91 gigawatts now —
purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs, that has continued this year. is a $20 billion a year investment opportunity,
ReNew would receive about $610 million in net proceeds after us- Modi said last year. By 2040, solar generation is
ing some of the money to pay down debt and repay existing investors expected to account for about the same share of
who are selling portions of their stakes, according to the people. Other India’s energy mix as coal, currently the nation’s
investors in the company include the Canada Pension Plan Investment dominant power source, according to the Inter-
Board and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. national Energy Agency

business & Finance
GOVT AND OTHER INITIATIVES WILL HELP IN IN-

CREASING IREDA’S NET-WORTH: CMD IREDA
IREDA organized a Quarterly borrower meet under the chairmanship of Shri Pradip Kumar Das, CMD, IREDA through virtual mode. During the course of
the interaction, CMD expressed his gratitude towards the new vision for Renewable Energy laid out by the Hon’ble Prime Minister that has resulted in
the Rs. 1500 crores Equity infusion in IREDA. Shri Das underlined the support from the Hon’ble Finance Minister and Hon’ble Power and New & Renewable
C
Energy Minister in this regard and expressed gratitude to them for reposing confidence in IREDA.
MD, IREDA highlighted that the equity from Govt.
of India and other initiatives will help in increas-
ing IREDA’s Net-worth. The additional equity will
improve the company’s capital adequacy that will
in turn help in enhancing the individual and group
level exposure limits to enable more funding to
the existing borrowers as well as new borrowers.
Also the same would enable further borrowing by
IREDA at lower interest rates in turn also lower-
ing the interest rates for developers by IREDA. IREDA will continue
to focus on developing the Green Energy sector in addition to raising
funds at minimum cost in order to ensure lower interest rates in the
sector. Appreciating IREDA’s proactive support and knowledge sharing
even during the pandemic, borrowers from different streams came up
with a range of positive suggestions. The participants appreciated the
top management’s initiative of such exchanges and issue resolution.
They acknowledged the process improvement and prompt response
at IREDA over the last few months. Shri B. V. Prasad from Vijay Nagar
Sugar Limited complemented the new culture in IREDA and referred to
the loan sanction that he received without ever visiting the IREDA of-
fice. He mentioned the services that stakeholders of IREDA have begun
to get in a transparent manner with help of technology. CMD, Director
(Technical), and other IREDA officials clarified the queries raised by the
borrowers.
ORANGE SIGNS RENEWABLE ENERGY DEAL WITH ENGIE

Orange is joining forces with ENGIE, a developer of solar and wind power in France, to deliver a global renewable energy supply solution in the country.
T
his will involve creating new solar
energy production capacities,
managing the production of all
renewable electricity capaci-
ties contracted by Orange with Fabienne Dulac, CEO of Orange France said:
other producers and supplying “Reducing our environmental footprint is a
additional volumes to cater to major part of Orange’s strategy. To achieve
Orange’s actual consumption. our aim of carbon neutrality by 2040, we seek
The 15-year Power Purchase to improve the energy performance of our
Agreement (PPA) between Orange and ENGIE networks and in particular by speeding up
covers the development of two new solar projects the incorporation of renewable energies into
totalling 51 MWp in L’Epine (38 MWp) and Ribeyret
our energy mix.”
(13 MWp), both located in the Hautes-Alpes region.
These two solar farms will be operational by 1 Janu-
ary 2023 at the latest. The regions covered by these
solar projects will reap significant economic benefits:
local companies will build, operate and maintain
the sites, and rent will be collected and tax income This innovative contract demonstrates EN-
generated by the facilities. ENGIE will aggregate GIE’s expertise across the entire renewable
all of the renewable energy produced by the wind
electricity value chain and the Group’s aim
farms and solar plants for which Orange France
to become a world leader on the renewable
signed a power purchase agreement. ENGIE will put
its expertise in energy management to use to deploy
electricity purchase agreements market,
a energy strip that caters as closely as possible to said Rosaline Corinthien, CEO of ENGIE
Orange’s actual consumption profile. France Renewables.

business & finance
BLUE WORLD TECHNOLOGIES ACQUIRES

GLOBALLY RECOGNISED MANUFACTURER
OF FUEL CELL COMPONENTS TO
STRENGTHEN ITS MARKET POSITION
Blue World Technologies, developer and manufacturer of methanol fuel cells, is acquiring Danish Power Systems, a 25-year-old HT-PEM material
O
research company.
n 29 December 2020, the respective
general assemblies at Blue World Tech-
nologies and Danish Power Systems
approved a combination of the two com-
panies, whereby Danish Power Systems For many years, our activities have
is acquired by and subsequently merged been centred around R&D. Now we
into Blue World Technologies to strength- are very much looking forward to
en the market position of Blue World being part of Blue World Technolo-
Technologies. The transaction follows gies and contribute to the ambitious
the acquisition Blue World Technologies made in August 2019, goal of commercialising the HT-PEM
where the company initially bought 15 % of the shares in Dan- methanol fuel cell technology. It is
ish Power Systems. The transaction awaits the approval of the taking us much closer to the market
Danish Authorities. For more than 25 years, Danish Power Sys- where we can really see our technol-
tems has been working with high-temperature PEM (HT-PEM) ogy make a difference in the race towards a greener future,
technology and was one of the first companies in the world to says Hans Aage Hjuler, CEO of Danish Power Systems.
start research and development activities within this technology.
Based on its outstanding MEA-technology (membrane electrode Blue World Technologies has initiated the commercialisa-
assembly) Danish Power Systems is widely recognised around tion of the methanol fuel cell technology through large-scale
the world. Since Blue World Technologies was founded in 2018 production and is planning to start up pre-series production
with the vision and strategy to commercialise the methanol fuel in mid-2021 with a production capacity of up to 5,000 units
cell technology, their fuel cell platform has been built using the (50MW). The company is targeting to reach a full-scale com-
MEA-technology of Danish Power Systems. mercial production capacity of up to 50,000 fuel cell units
within three years. Large-scale and cost-efficient production is
key for a truly commercialised breakthrough of methanol fuel
cell solutions as a green alternative to industries around the
world.
The experience and knowhow the team An important role in the Power-to-X value chain
from Danish Power Systems is bring- Within the past couple of years, Power-to-X has gained
ing into Blue World Technologies are global ground, both on the political scene and in many in-
second to none. In the 20 years, I have dustries. In the green transition, Power-to-X technologies are
been working with fuel cell technol- going to play a significant role, especially within the sectors
ogy I have not seen other component where direct electrification is not possible or feasible, which
for example could be within heavy-duty transportation. When
suppliers capable of providing the same
transforming green electricity into liquid fuel, such as metha-
stability, power density, and well-proven
nol, it is possible to reuse the existing global infrastructure for
component-lifetime as Danish Power storage and distribution while reducing fossil fuel consump-
Systems. The acquisition of Danish tion, and thereby, cutting down CO2 emissions. Methanol and
Power Systems is, therefore, an impor- other e-fuels can be used to fuel conventional combustion
tant and value-adding step for us to secure additional technol- engines and generators, either as a stand-alone fuel or as an
ogy competences strengthening and benefitting our fuel cell additive, or they can be used to power fuel cells. On the utility
production, states Anders Korsgaard, CEO and Co-founder of side of the Power-to-X value chain, Blue World Technologies’
Blue World Technologies. fuel cell technology is striving to play an important role. With
high electrical efficiency of up to 45 %, Blue World Technolo-
With the strong experience and competences of Danish
gies’ methanol fuel cells will for many applications provide a
Power Systems’ team, Blue World Technologies is able to
much higher efficiency compared to combustion engines and
accelerate product development to optimise the technology
generators. In addition, the fuel cells provide a clean and en-
platform bridging R&D activities and market needs. With an
vironmentally friendly operation where emissions of harmful
industrial approach, Blue World Technologies is differentiated
particles such as NOx and SOx are eliminated. Furthermore,
from most other manufacturers of methanol fuel cells and fuel
the operation can be either CO2 neutral or have a signifi-
cell systems, by having all technologies and core component
cantly reduced CO2 emission depending on the origin of the
manufacturing within the fuel cell stack value-chain in-house,
fuel, contributing to the combat against severe air pollution
and in some cases even to system level.
and climate changes.

business & Finance
INVESTEC-BACKED ENERGY FUND PLANS $102

MILLION SOUTH AFRICA IPO
Revego Africa Energy Fund, an investor in South African renewable projects, is looking to raise as much as 1.5 billion rand ($102 million) by April with
the industry poised to grow.
The fund is backed by Investec Ltd.,

the Eskom Pension & Provident
Fund and UK Climate Investment
and is seeking to list on Johannes-
burg’s stock exchange, according
to Revego Fund Managers Chief
Investment Officer Michael Meeser.
“We have already identified assets
equal to that value and have actually
signed purchase agreements,” he
T
said.
he listing may come as South Africa
starts to accept bids from independent
energy producers to help ease the bur-
den on state-owned utility Eskom Hold-
ings SOC Ltd., which struggles to meet
the country’s electricity demand. The
government is committed to buy an ad-
ditional 11,800 megawatts of power from
various sources, President Cyril Rama-
phosa reiterated this month. The emergence of funds such
as Revego indicates there is a market for realized renewable
projects in South Africa, even after a state program that was
once the fastest-growing in the world stalled under former “Things are picking up” in the sector, Meeser said. If South
President Jacob Zuma. He was latterly more interested in Africa is able to commit to longer timelines and give detail
a pursuit of nuclear power, though the strategy never got on required capacity, it could give more visibility to interna-
off the ground. Revego plans to pay dividends and wants to tional companies and boost local manufacturing, he said.
see its assets generate enough income to fund expansion, Revego wants to own a wide range of renewable projects to
according to Meeser. The company will target inflows from help reduce the fund’s risk. The company holds stakes in
investors seeking to do business with Black-owned firms in South African wind and solar power projects and is an-
South Africa, taking advantage of government policies to ticipating opportunities across sub-Saharan Africa, where
help reverse the impact of racial segregation that ended in nations such as Kenya and Tanzania are also investing in
1994. renewable-energy programs.
EDP TO INVEST €24BN IN ENERGY

TRANSITION
The company targets 50GW of renewables and carbon-neutrality by 2030. Portuguese energy company EDP has announced it will invest €24 billion
I
(£20.9bn) in energy transition and renewables by 2030.
n that timeframe, the firm expects to have 50GW of renew- “This plan is a bold and ambitious commitment and
ables installed and carbon-neutrality across its operations. unprecedented acceleration of growth in renewables
EDP said the largest share of the green investment will be building on our strong track record.
secured by renewables. The company anticipates deploy-
“The global challenge presented by climate
ing 4GW of solar, hydrogen and storage per year and
change requires a different mindset, ambition and,
double solar and wind capacity by 2025. Miguel Stilwell
above all, measurable action.”
d’Andrade, Chief Executive Officer of EDP, commented:

business & finance
AMARA RAJA BATTERIES Q3 PAT SPURTS 18% TO

RS 194 CR
Consolidated profit before tax (PBT) surged 19.93% to Rs 260.40 crore in Q3 December 2020 over Q3 December 2019. Total tax expense for the quarter
soared 25.98% to Rs 66.71 crore as against Rs 52.95 crore in Q3 December 2019. The Q3 result was declared on 13 February 2021. The board approved the
I
payment of an interim dividend of Rs 5 per equity share.
n the automotive segment, revenue growth is aided
by consistent growth in OEM and aftermarket seg-
ments and also the export segment registered robust
growth. The telecom and commercial UPS market
segments have also recorded a strong growth in
the third quarter. Manufacturing capacities are fully
ramped up to the optimum utilisation across all seg-
ments. During the quarter, ARBL has inaugurated the
Advanced Lithium Technology Research Hub with
pilot plant facility for cell development. ARBL has developed a
wide range of battery packs for e-Mobility and Energy storage
applications and has secured approvals from various OE’s and
fleet operators for commercial supplies. To further support the
sustainability initiatives, ARBL is setting up a 50 megawatt (MW)
solar power plant in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh at a
total outlay of Rs 220 crore. This will further reduce the cost of
power and simultaneously bring down the carbon footprint of
the company. As part of the overall lead procurement strategy,
ARBL will set up a greenfield lead recycling unit with a capac-
ity of one lakh tons which will help the company comply with
recycling standards whilst adopting advance technology in the
most environmentally friendly manner. The total capital outlay
for this project is expected to be Rs 280 crore to be spent over
the next 18 months.
Commenting on the Q3 result, Jayadev

Galla, the vice chairman & managing
director (MD) of Amara Raja Batter-
ies, said that: “The Indian economy
has started showing sharper signs of S. Vijayanand, the chief executive of-
recovery, with reduction in COVID-19 ficer (CEO) of Amara Raja Batteries,
prevalence and ongoing vaccination has said that: “We are going forward
drive boosting industry confidence. The with strategic investments focused
rebounding of the economy, with recent on improving operational efficien-
lessons, is improving the prospects of cies, cost optimisation and technol-
various market segments, especially ogy upgradation. The planned invest-
those in which were are operating. The Indian Government has ments in Solar and lead recycling
recently announced many initiatives and PLI schemes which plants will further strengthen our
will accelerate the growth of E-mobility and renewable energy resolve towards a cleaner environ-
markets. We are assessing the investment opportunities in ment through a sustainable circular
advanced and futuristic energy storage technologies to address economy and also aid reducing costs and provide long term
these emerging market segments.” support to our key raw material procurement.”

business & Finance
CHEVRON LAUNCHES $300 MN FUND FOR LOW-

CARBON TECHNOLOGY
Chevron announced the launch of a $300 million fund focused on low-carbon technology, as traditional global oil and gas firms attempt to invest more
in green energy and tackle climate change.
M
ajor energy firms have set targets to reduce The oil major in October formed a joint ven-
greenhouse gas emissions or are exploring in- ture to market dairy biomethane, a renewable
vestments in renewable energy and green tech- natural gas made of methane emissions from
nology amid rising pressure from investors and cattle burps as part of its push to reduce emis-
activists, Reuters reported. Earlier this month, sions. Future Energy Fund II is the eighth ven-
top U.S. oil producer Exxon Mobil unveiled a ture fund launched since CTV was established
carbon-removal technology venture that would in 1999. CTV also has a Core Energy Fund
directly compete with Occidental Petroleum’s which invests in technologies with the poten-
efforts to develop the largest ever facility to pull tial to have a significant impact on Chevron’s
carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Chevron Technology Ventures, the core business through operational enhance-
venture capital division of the company, launched the first Future Energy ments, digitalization and low-carbon opera-
Fund in 2018 and has invested in more than 10 companies in the field that tions. Chevron is also an investor as a limited
focus on carbon capture and energy storage. Last month, Chevron invested partner in funds such as the Oil & Gas Climate
in Blue Planet Systems, a startup commercializing a technology that makes Initiative’s (OGCI) Climate Investments and
a substitute for limestone in concrete and building materials from carbon Emerald Technology Ventures’ Industrial In-
dioxide. novation Fund.

international
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL IN GERMANY SEEKS TO SPEED UP DRIVE TO

GO GREEN
Royal Dutch Shell in Germany aims to produce aviation fuel and naphtha made from crops and renewable power and to increase to commercial scale an
T
electrolysis plant that makes fossil-free hydrogen, as it seeks to move away from crude oil.
he energy major told an online confer-
ence it had applied for subsidies to
carry out the work from the European
Union and from German funds ear-
marked for decarbonisation. Fabian
Ziegler, head of Shell Deutschland,
said several hundred million euros
should be spent per year, but he did not
give a desired ratio between company
and public funding. The global Shell group has set itself a
goal of net zero emissions by 2050. At Wesseling, part of
the Rheinland refinery, Shell plans to use green electricity
and biomass to produce synthetic power-to-liquids (ptl) in
a carbon-free way to replace, over the long term, conven-
tional jet fuel and naphtha. The 100,000 tonnes/p.a. ptl
plant could be built from 2023 and start producing in 2025.
Shell also gave a timeline for building a 100 megawatt
(MW) electrolysis plant, to be called Refhyne II, scaling up
from an existing 10 MW plant. Hydrogen is considered a
green fuel when electricity from renewable energy sources
The market’s build-up will take many years but there are
is used in its production. Shell has begun securing offshore
clear targets in place for 2030, accompanied by plans to
wind power assets whose electricity it could use as feed-
repurpose existing gas and oil transport infrastructure for
stock for electrolysis. Through its latest purchase of Next example around existing refinery clusters. Hydrogen has a
Kraftwerke, a virtual power plant (VPP) operator, it gets high energy content by mass, but conversion losses from
access to aggregated biomass-to-power and solar plants. electrolysis and high costs involved in readying it for deliv-
A final investment decision for Refhyne II is due this year ery pose challenges. Costs of producing green hydrogen of
and production could start by the end of 2025, Ziegler said. 5-6 euros per kg must come down, given that fossil fuels-
The Berlin government last summer earmarked 7 billion based hydrogen costs 1.50 euros/kg, he said. The plans for
euros for the build-up of green hydrogen in Germany, plus Wesseling tie in with other European Shell initiatives, with
a further 2 billion euros to set up partnerships with other partners, to build electrolysis production in Hamburg and
countries, to introduce the alternative fuel across industries in the Netherlands. Shell wants to build up transport sector
and energy. delivery chains for hydrogen and provide electric charging.
TOTAL AND ZAHID GROUP TO DEVELOP SOLAR ENERGY

IN SAUDI ARABIA
In line with Zahid Group and Total’s commitment to the Saudi Vision 2030, SAFEER’s mission is to bring affordable and reliable solar energy solutions
to commercial and industrial customers across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, leading the way in the development of the ecosystem for distributed
generation through the delivery of high-quality solutions and development of local content and talent, while maintaining a commitment to safety and
S
quality.
pecialising in commercial and indus-
trial solar installations on rooftops and
carports, the joint venture will leverage
Total’s expertise across the entire solar
value chain and Altaaqa’s 18 years of Commenting on the establishment of SAFEER,
leadership in delivering independent Julien Pouget, Senior Vice President, Renew-
power and water utility solutions in the ables at Total said, “In line with our 2050 carbon
country. Both the Zahid Group and neutrality ambition and our growth strategy in
Total have a track record of successful renewables, we are committed to bring to SAFEER
investments in Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas and energy Total’s world-class expertise in onsite solar power
sectors, creating numerous career opportunities while generation solutions to provide clean, affordable
also being catalysts in the elevation of industry stan- and reliable energy to industrial and commercial
dards and best practices. Establishing SAFEER comes customers in Saudi Arabia. We are delighted to
as a natural response to the Ministry of Energy’s an- expand our partnership with Zahid Group to this
nouncement to promote renewable distributed genera- new field opened by the Ministry of Energy in the
tion in the country.
frame of Saudi Vision 2030.”

international
SPANISH ENERGY COMPANIES TO CARRY THE TORCH FOR

RENEWABLE DEALS
Several Spanish clean energy companies are planning stock market listings or stake sales within the next two years, taking advantage of a market
R
boom in green assets to raise funds to build more wind farms and solar parks.
ising demand for environmentally friendly
investments is focusing attention on
Spain’s under-exploited solar and more
established wind sector, helped by gov-
ernment targets in line with international Renewables is a sector with … high growth, high visibility
requirements to decarbonise economies and unlike many other growth sectors – these companies
and stem climate change. International are already making a profit, said Philip ten Bosch, co-head of
groups Acciona and Repsol have started global power investment banking at Citi.
the process of spinning off energy units He added that valuations for pure play clean energy
that could be valued in the billions of firms are at a clear premium to more diversified utili-
euros. Acciona plans a listing and Repsol ties, providing the rationale for a spin-offs, though he
has given itself 1-1/2 years for an IPO or declined to discuss specific names. Record levels of
stake sale to a partner. Madrid plans to money has built up in funds that require strong envi-
preside over a tripling of its installed solar ronmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials,
power generation and a boost to wind stoking demand for green stocks. But government bond
which will add 60 gigawatts (GW) in new yields have risen in recent weeks, taking some steam
capacity this decade. The European Union out of growth stocks like renewables, and bankers said
as a whole wants to reduce its planet- this has muddied the investment case slightly, though
warming emissions to net zero – no more demand for ESG remains strong. “Those who have the
than can be absorbed by carbon-sucking best assets and the best strategy will have more options
trees or other technology – by 2050. but some look opportunistic,” said one banker involved
Iberdrola, Spain’s biggest power firm, will in some of these situations.
plough some of its 150 billion-euro invest-
ment plan for the next decade into tripling
its renewable capacity worldwide.
SPAIN’S SOLAR SURGE
Going green is a global trend, but Spain stands out for fast growth
With sunny Spain at the forefront of Europe’s shift to renew- partly motivated by a sharp fall in the price of solar panel technol-
ables, many clean power developers there are hiring banks to ogy that has helped erase the memory of painful subsidy cuts in
evaluate whether to sell shares to private bidders or on stock 2013. Madrid plans to preside over the installation of more than 39
markets, financial sources say. Newer firms Capital Energy and gigawatts (GW) of solar photovoltaic technology by 2030, more
Opdenergy have joined the queue looking for ways to raise than triple its current fleet. And financial investors are now so
funds, according to bankers familiar with those situations. Capi- keen for a ray of sunshine that they are buying into projects before
tal Energy has hired Goldman Sachs and UBS to advise it on a they are built, said Peter Dickson, partner and technical director at
potential share sale, while Opdenergy has taken on Santander London-based investment fund Glenmont Partners. “An infrastruc-
and Citi, people familiar with the matter said. A spokesman ture investor will normally try not to take too much development
for Capital Energy said the company was analysing several risk,” Dickson said. But this has changed as the market became
more competitive, he said. Strong financial backing has become
financing options. Opdenergy declined to comment. The banks
more important for developers, said Tomas Garcia, Senior Director
declined to comment or were not immediately available for
of Energy and Infrastructure Advisory at Jones Lang LaSalle.
comment.
“Development is becoming more capital intensive and more sophisticated, so some smaller developers will need to get that
capital and a more professional approach from an international investment fund, for example.”

international
AGL ACQUIRES AUSTRALIAN C&I SOLAR

PROVIDERS SOLGEN AND EPHO
Solgen has delivered more than 15,000 solar projects in the past decade. Australian utility AGL Energy has secured deals to acquire two commercial
and industrial (C&I) solar companies, Solgen Energy Group and Epho, as it looks to strengthen its existing PV capabilities.
A
GL, which operates the largest electricity “We can make a material difference to the carbon foot-print
portfolio in Australia’s National Electricity of corporate Australia,” he added. AGL CEO Brett Redman said
Market (NEM) and is the country’s big- the two acquisitions will allow the utility to deliver more than
gest greenhouse gas emitter, said the ac- 70MW of commercial solar projects each year. “This part of
quisitions will allow it to deliver “more tai- the energy sector has seen significant growth over the last ten
lored and innovative” energy solutions for years, as businesses right across Australia seek out solar offer-
businesses. Established in 2008, Solgen ings to help them decarbonise, reduce costs and create sustain-
is among Australia’s largest commercial
able operations.” Recent figures from the Australian Energy
solar providers, having delivered more
Council revealed that the amount of rooftop solar installations
than 15,000 projects in the last decade.
It also owns solar equipment distribution
in Australia grew by 18% last year.
business Sol Distribution. Epho, which Despite the impact from COVID-19, some 2.6GW of ca-
AGL will acquire from Anchorage Capital pacity and 333,978 rooftop PV installations were added
Partners, specialises in the construction to the grid during 2020. In Western Australia, rooftop PV
and maintenance of large-scale systems is set to be the fastest-growing form of new capacity,
and has carried out more than 400 solar with the expansion displacing coal as well as large-scale
installations in Australia, including a solar projects. Alongside the rise of Australia’s C&I
6MW PV park at Brisbane airport. Oliver market, the amount of corporate power purchase agree-
Hartley, managing director at Epho, said ments (PPA) in the country from last year are expected
the acquisition will allow the company to reach record levels. A report published in December
to provide a “full suite of on- and off-site from Business Renewables Centre Australia found more
renewable energy retail solutions” that its than 3GW of renewables have been contracted since
clients require to meet their environmen- 2017 in the country through corporate PPAs
tal commitments.

international
CHINA’S TSINGSHAN PLANS CLEAN EN-

ERGY PLANT IN INDONESIA
Chinese steel and nickel producer Tsingshan plans to build a 2,000MW clean energy facility in Indonesia in the next 3-5 years. The firm will build solar
and wind power stations and supporting facilities at its Tsingshan and Weda Bay industrial parks in Indonesia. The plant will supply power for the
T
firm’s production of raw materials used in electric vehicle batteries, ensuring its operations emit zero CO2 emissions.
singshan is also on track to build a
5,000MW hydropower project in Indone-
sia to further ensure clean energy sup-
plies. The exact timeline of this project
is unclear. The firm earlier this month
announced it will supply nickel matte,
a main feedstock to produce nickel
sulphate, to domestic cobalt smelter
Huayou Cobalt and new energy materi-
als producer CNGR. Argus assessed
nickel sulphate prices at 35,500-36,500
yuan/t ($5,460-5,620/t) ex-works, down
by Yn1,000/t from 9 March following a fall
in nickel metal prices. Import prices were
assessed at $3,500-3,800/t cif China on
9 March, unchanged from a week ago.
Stock-holding traders offered towards the
upper end of the range on expectations
of firm long-term demand from the power
battery sector.
DAQO NEW ENERGY ANNOUNCES THREE-YEAR HIGH-PURITY POLY-

SILICON SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH WUXI SHANGJI AUTOMATION
Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) (“Daqo New Energy”, the “Company” or “we”), a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV
industry, announced that it signed a three-year high-purity polysilicon supply agreement with Wuxi Shangji Automation (SSE:603158) (“Shangji”), a lead-
ing high-end intelligent equipment provider for manufacturing industries including the solar PV industry. Shangji started its mono-wafer manufactur-
U
ing business in 2019 and has quickly been recognized as a high-quality mono-wafer provider.
nder the supply agreement, Daqo

New Energy will provide Shangji
with high-purity mono-grade polysili-
con in a total amount of 52,700 MT
between July 2021 and June 2024.
Actual prices will be negotiated by
both parties monthly according to
market conditions. As part of the
supply agreement, Shangji will
make an advance payment to Daqo
New Energy.
Mr. Jianliang Yang, Chairman of Wuxi Shangji Automation, Mr. Longgen Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Daqo New
commented, ” We are very pleased to further strengthen our Energy, commented, “Shangji Automation is one of our key
strategic partnership with Daqo New Energy through this customers with a visionary strategy and very strong execu-
second long-term polysilicon contract between us. We will tion track record in the mono-wafer sector. We will continue
continue to expand our mono-wafer capacity with advanced to work closely with Shangji by providing first-class polysili-
technology to better serve the fast-growing solar PV mar- con products and assist them to better execute their capacity
ket.” expansion plans.”

international
JAPAN LAGS AS ECONOMIES WORLDWIDE

SHIFT TO RENEWABLE POWER
The 21st century is becoming the age of renewable power as economies around the world ramp up their decarbonization efforts. But as the costs of
I
solar and wind generation dramatically decline, Japan is lagging behind in its efforts to implement green electricity.
n the port of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, a dem-
onstration unit of the world’s largest wind turbine,
manufactured by General Electric, has been built.
It is 260 meters high, with 107 meter blades, and
each rotation produces enough electricity to power
one household for about two days. The Dogger
Bank wind farm off the coast of the U.K., which is
under construction, will boast 190 of these turbines.
When complete, it will have a generation capacity
of 3,600 megawatts. The world’s first offshore wind
farm, built 30 years ago off the coast of Denmark,
had an output of 5 megawatts. The number of days
required to build each unit has been reduced from
28 days to only half a day, and the cost of construc-
tion has rapidly declined, as has the cost of power
generation.
We are surprised at the low prices offered by European compa-

nies, said Toshiaki Kushima, deputy mayor of Yurihonjo, Akita
Prefecture. European companies are interested in a large-scale
wind farm off the coast of Yurihonjo. The tender will take place
in May.
According to an estimate by the International Renewable
Energy Agency, the world’s electricity demand will increase
to 48 terawatt-hours by 2050, 2.2 times that of 2017. This is Until a few years ago, coal and natural gas were com-
because electricity will replace oil and coal in the transportation petitive around the world, but innovation and economies
and industrial sectors. Moreover, as economies aim for carbon of scale in the past decade have made solar power
neutrality, investment in green electricity generation that does 80% cheaper and onshore wind 40% cheaper. Markus
not emit carbon dioxide will grow. The amount of electricity Krebber, CFO of German utility RWE, which is in the
generated by renewables will increase 7.5 times, and their process of divesting coal-fired power plants, said, “We
share of the total will rise from 25% to 86% in the same period. need to transform to become a major renewable player.
Like countries in northern Europe, the Japanese government is It was clear that our operating business [running a
trying to expand offshore wind power, which is currently almost huge conventional generation fleet] had no long-lasting
non-existent in the country. The plan is to increase wind power future.” In Japan, the utilities in each region own and
capacity to a total of 4,500 megawatts by 2040, but the off- operate the transmission lines. This makes it difficult for
shore facility planned for Yurihonjo will have an output of 730 independent power producers that invest in wind and
megawatts, only one-fifth of Dogger Bank’s. Currently, Japan solar power to connect to the grid, as the utilities’ coal,
is well behind Europe in terms of renewables. Their share in gas and nuclear plants get priority. Since 2011, the U.K.
2020 was 42% of U.K.’s and 45% of Germany’s, while Japan’s has made it easier to connect renewable energy to the
share was only about 20%. Research firm Bloomberg NEF grid by curtailing wind generation when there is excess
looked at which power sources are cheapest for new power supply. The amount of renewable energy installed in
plants in each country and region. According to the study, the England has expanded from about 6,000 megawatts
cheapest per megawatt-hour was coal at $74 in Japan, solar in 2011 to about 250,000 megawatts in 2017. Japan is
at $33 in China, wind at $36 in the U.S. and wind at $42 in the implementing a rule modeled after the U.K. across the
U.K. Japan’s renewables were expensive — solar was $124 country this year to enhance renewables. However, in
and wind $113. The combined gross domestic product of the the U.K., transmission companies pay compensation to
countries and regions where renewable energy is cheapest is renewable energy IPPs when they have to curtail genera-
close to three-quarters of the world’s total. Japan and South- tion; in Japan, there is no such rule. An executive from
east Asian countries were the anomalies, with coal as the a Japanese utility who asked not to be named said, “It’s
cheapest source. an easy rule for large utilities.”

international
SUNGROW BAGS 500 MW AGREE-

MENTS DURING PV JAPAN EXPO
Sungrow, a leading global inverter solution supplier for renewables, has signed 500 MW of strategic agreements to supply PV inverter solutions in
Japan during the recent PV Expo. he Company also debuted a future-proof PV and energy storage product lineup optimized for various Japanese market
segments; therefore fueling the transition to a low carbon economy and overshooting Japan’s 2050 carbon neutrality target.
AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING FOR 2021 SOLAR PV IS A MAINSTREAM POWER SOURCE IN JAPAN

The 500 MW agreements forged between Sungrow TOWARDS 2030 AND 2050.
and some major Japan-based companies, will power a
large number of applications in the coming years. “Our Sungrow rolled out the new 5.5 kW string inverter tailored to the
actions are firmly grounded in Japanese demands. surging low voltage market. The inverter features a high DC/AC
We’re excited for what’s to come from these extensive ratio of 3, enabling a low initial investment. With 3 MPPTs, it’s ideal
partnerships as it’s a tremendous opportunity to create for complicated terrains. Japan has experienced a sizable growth
customer value and business growth,” said Sun Xiao, in the ultra-high-voltage (UHV) market. The high-performance 125
Country Manager of Sungrow Japan. kW string inverter Sungrow debuted is designed to support small
utility-scale projects, compatible with the growing preference of high
ENERGY STORAGE DRIVES NET ZERO CARBON wattage bifacial modules. Its compact design and light weight of only
As self-consumption and VPP models increase in 70 kg, permits faster solution speeds at installation and commission-
popularity, energy storage will play a much greater role ing. The new offerings for the high voltage segment include 100 kW
in the future. The battery energy storage system (ESS) and 49.5 kW string inverters, featuring high efficiency and durabil-
named ST159KWH-50HV is a 50 kW-3H system for self- ity; therefore, making the assets of stakeholders more profitable.
consumption, featuring easy installations and a small Sungrow’s seven-year Japanese presence aids in aligning with its
footprint. Notably, Sungrow recently supplied a 21 MWh customers. “Our target in 2021 is to increase market share within
DC-coupling solar-plus-storage project in Hokkaido, the energy storage market and get a strong foothold in the UHV PV
ensuring 24 hours continuous yield. Latest PV lineup segment. We foresee the deployment of our commercial product
boosts innovation portfolio and a strong beginning with more low voltage projects as
well,” commented Sun Xiao at the expo.

international
BENBAN SOLAR PARK IN EGYPT TO BE

CLEANED USING ROBOTIC SOLUTIONS
Installed solar panels at the Benban Solar Park in Egypt will be cleaned using robotic solutions from Ecoppia, the pioneer and world leader in robotic
J
solutions for photovoltaic solar.
ean Scemama, the CEO of Ecoppia made the
announcement and said that the Israeli company
RELIABLE ON ALL MODULE TYPES
has already signed an agreement for the de- According to the CEO, this project in BenBan will feature the
ployment of its equipment in the facility which is light-weighted Ecoppia T4 solution, designed especially for Sin-
located in Benban (Aswan Governorate of Egypt) gle Axis trackers. The solutions were proven to be extremely ef-
in the western desert. Benban Solar Park is set fective, cleaning nearly 10 million solar panels in harsh climatic
to be the world’s largest solar PV Park with a conditions, spreading across roughly 2,500MW of installations
total capacity of 1650 MWp which corresponds to around the globe. In addition, the robots were also proven to
an annual production of approximately 3.8 TWh. be fully safe and reliable on all module types, to include glass
While enjoying very high radiation rates in this location, the on glass and bifacial. “As the front-runners in robotic cleaning
facility also suffers from major soiling and desert sands, requir- solutions for solar, entering a new country is a great milestone
ing frequent cleaning to ensure steady and optimal production. in the company’s growth, especially when the project is in one
Ecoppia’s unique robotic solutions are completely autono- of the largest and most significant solar parks in the world”
mous, water-free, and energy independent, allowing site own- said CEO Scemama. “Our unparalleled experience in the region,
ers to enjoy the benefits of year-round peak performance while operating in the Middle East for almost 7 years now, enables us
lowering their Operation & Maintenance (O&M) expenses and to deliver great value to such projects, as we see more and more
overall, their Levelized cost of energy, or Levelized cost of energy companies advancing towards full automation of their
electricity (LCOE). O&M activities” he added.

international
ITALY’S ENI, CDP FORM JOINT VENTURE TO INVEST 800

MLN EUROS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
Italy’s Eni and state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) have formed a joint venture to invest around 800 million euros ($957 million) over five years
G
in solar and wind energy production, they said in a statement.
reenIT, which is 51% owned by Eni and

49% by CDP unit CDP Equity, will target
an installed capacity of approximately
1,000 MW by 2025, they said. The move
is aimed at stepping up Italy’s efforts to
increase renewable energy generation,
in line with the objectives set by the 2030
Integrated National Energy and Climate
Plan submitted to the European Union
Commission at the end of 2019. Italy’s
new ecology minister Roberto Cingolani is
working on a new plan for energy transi-
tion that is expected to be ready by May.
In a phone conversation with U.S. Special
Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry
held. Cingolani said Rome plans to cut its
carbon emissions by around 60% by 2030,
and to use 80 billion euros of EU funds for
energy transition in the next five years.
UPDATE 4-ITALY’S ENI VOWS TO BECOME CARBON NEUTRAL BY

2050 IN LATEST GREEN PUSH
Eni to merge renewable and retail businesses
Eni targets capex of 7 bln euros/yr to 2024
Shares rise 2.3% vs flat European oil & gas index
Italian energy group Eni ENI.MI raised its ambition to cut greenhouse gas emissions, vowing to become net carbon neutral by 2050, as it seeks to keep up
pace in an industry under pressure from investors to go green.
“This is a target, not an aspiration,” Descalzi told

analysts during a presentation of the plan, adding that
Like its peers, Eni is stepping up plans to transition to cleaner management’s salaries would be tied to that.
fuels as governments around the world ratchet up green deals The world’s top oil and gas companies have set vary-
to tackle the climate crisis and electrify economies. “We commit ing targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their
to the full decarbonisation of all our products and processes operations and the use of the products they sell. Dutch Shell
by 2050,” Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi said. “Our plan is RDSa.L vowed to eliminate net carbon emissions by 2050,
concrete, detailed, economically sustainable and technologi- raising its ambition from previous targets, as its oil output
E
cally proven.” declines from a 2019 peak, while Total rebranded as part of
ni shares accelerated after the plan was a push to diversify and grow renewable power and electric-
unveiled, rising 2.3% by 1324 GMT versus ity production. said it would merge its renewable and retail
a flat European oil and gas index. In an businesses to grow its customer base in synergy with its
update to a clean-up drive announced last green ambitions. Unveiling shorter-term targets to 2024,
year, Eni said it would cut absolute emis- Eni said production would rise 4% per year, with spending
sions by 25% by 2030 from 2018 levels and on upstream activities of around 4.5 billion euros per year.
by 65% by 2040. Eni’s plans come just days Eni plans to spend an overall 7 billion euros per year over
after newly-appointed Italian Prime Minister the next four years, with over 20% of that allocated to green
Mario Draghi has put climate change at the projects and the merged renewable and retail business. Eni
heart of his plans for Italy and has said his government intends said it would again base its dividend policy on the price of
to boost renewable energy and green hydrogen production. Brent, saying the floor of 0.36 euros per share would start at
Eni, which makes most of its earnings from oil and gas, said the an annual Brent scenario of $43 a barrel, two dollars lower
2050 decarbonisation goal would be reached by growing output than the previous level. The company will buy back shares
from bio-refineries, raising renewable capacity, deforestation for 300 million euros if Brent reaches $56 a barrel, and more
initiatives, carbon capture and other green projects. should prices go higher.

international
FLOATING SOLAR PAN-

ELS ON 1% OF RESER-
VOIRS ‘COULD DOUBLE’
AFRICA’S HYDRO
POWER CAPACITY
Floating solar could be a valuable tool to help African nations expand
their power infrastructure sustainably, according to a new study and
an energy expert. If panels covered 1% of reservoirs, this alone could
double African hydropower capacity and increase electricity genera-
tion from dams by 50%. But unknowns remain, such as the impacts on
water quality and technical challenges including the impact of bird
S
fouling and corrosion.
olar panels floating on the lakes formed by
On top of this, the dams that have been built have often
Africa’s hydropower dams could be a major
been linked to social, environmental and political problems.
new source of power, according to a new
The new paper proposes floating solar panels as a solution
study. If these panels covered just 1% of
that boosts hydropower capacity using Africa’s “vast solar
reservoirs, this alone could double African
resources”. Panels can be mounted on floating structures
hydropower capacity and increase electricity
and plugged into existing electricity infrastructure.
generation from dams by 50%. Hydro dams
are the largest renewable power source in a The authors* – a team from the European Commission’s
continent where millions of people still lack Joint Research Centre – tell Carbon Brief:
access to electricity. However, their future “Floating photovoltaics could be a potential alternative to
potential could be hampered by climate expanding hydropower in certain areas, especially in water
change. scarce regions where droughts are causing severe reper-
cussions on hydroelectric generation.” At the same time,
HAVE YOU READ? they note that during the wet season hydropower could
This is what needs to be done to bring electricity to Sub- compensate for the intermittency of solar power in these
Saharan Africa How will hydropower shape Africa’s future? hybrid systems. The researchers used a combination of
Africa is facing an electricity crisis – a pay-as-you-go model satellite images and data from hydropower reservoirs and
could solve the problem. In a new paper published in Re- solar radiation to estimate floating solar’s potential at the
newable Energy, researchers lay out the possibility of using 146 largest hydropower facilities in Africa as of 2016. In
floating solar panels installed on lakes to boost the gener- a maximum scenario where 100% of each reservoir was
ating capacity of existing dams. With the continent caught covered with solar panels, there would be an accompanying
between “a climate crisis and widespread energy poverty”, 100-fold increase in capacity, with 2,922 gigawatts (GW) of
one regional expert tells Carbon Brief that floating solar could solar added to the existing 28GW of hydropower. This would
be a valuable tool to help African nations expand their power mean a 50-fold increase in electricity production compared
infrastructure sustainably. to current hydro output, from 106 terawatt hours (TWh) to
5,293TWh. This dwarfs the total electricity demand across
BOOSTING HYDRO the whole of Africa, which is only around 700TWh. While
covering every reservoir with panels is clearly “not feasible”,
Hydropower accounts for 17% of the electricity generated
the authors note that, even in cases with far less coverage,
across Africa and more than 90% in some nations, including
the gains were substantial. With just 1% cover, the installed
Ethiopia, Mozambique and Zambia. Dr Samuel Gyamfi from
capacity of existing hydropower plants could be more than
the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Ghana,
doubled, rising from 28GW to 58GW.
who was not involved in the new study, tells Carbon Brief that
African nations have still built far less than other parts of the This would mean increasing the overall electricity output of
world: “This is basically due to financial constraints…Africa the hydropower and solar hybrid system to 159TWh, a 50%
has about 90% of its hydro resources yet to be developed for increase from hydropower alone. The paper also includes a
power generation.” As it stands, less than half the popula- scenario in which the installed solar exactly matched hydro-
tion of sub-Saharan Africa has access to electricity. With power capacity, allowing for full use of the dam’s connection
more than 50 new dams currently under construction, this to the grid. This resulted in 0.9% coverage, but only for 108
technology is often touted as a renewable solution to Africa’s reservoirs as the remaining 38 required more than 100%
energy needs. But, with rising global temperatures leading to coverage to equal hydropower capacity. These reservoirs are
disrupted rainfall and droughts, existing African facilities are shown in the map below, with the size of the circles indicated
expected to generate less power in the future.
the size of solar power output.

international
‘JUST SOLAR ON A BOAT’ COSTS AND CHALLENGES

Though still at the early stages of development, floating Experts tell Carbon Brief that while the new paper paints an
solar power has been “growing exponentially”, accord- interesting picture, there are issues with floating solar in Africa.
ing to a 2018 report by the World Bank. Some African “The technology is excellent, but rather expensive,” says
nations have taken the first steps towards this new tech- Dr Mmantsae Moche Diale, a solar power researcher at the
nology, but they are far behind the big players, such as University of Pretoria. The study notes evidence from the EU
China. A 2019 report found there was 64kW of floating that floating solar power can cost around 20-25% more than
solar deployed in Africa compared to 813,788kW in Asia. the conventional variety. However, the authors tell Carbon Brief
Mohamed Adow, director of Nairobi-based thinktank that, with electricity grid infrastructure already in place at hy-
Power Shift Africa, tells Carbon Brief that diversifying the dropower plants, the saving on grid connection costs can make
continent’s energy portfolio with technologies such as floating solar “more economically viable”. Chase downplays the
floating solar could reduce “outages and overreliance” additional costs, telling Carbon Brief that “it’s a bit more expen-
on hydropower. Jenny Chase, a solar analyst at Bloom- sive than ground mount, but not much”, adding: “Solar’s got so
bergNEF (BNEF) who was not involved in the new study, cheap that these days it’s more a ‘why not?’ than ‘why do this’”
tells Carbon Brief “sticking solar on hydro plants should Nevertheless, Adow says that to make the scenarios laid out
be an obvious win”. She adds: “It’s just solar on a boat. in this paper a reality there will need to be targeted financial
You’ve got the grid connection, so you’re good to go.” support for African governments from richer countries: “This is
In general, solar power is set for considerable growth why developing nations talk about the importance of ‘technol-
in the region, taking advantage of Africa’s ample solar ogy transfer‘ at the UN climate summits…It must be top of the
resources and falling prices. “The continent really just agenda when countries meet this year at COP26 in Glasgow.”
needed it to get cheap,” says Chase. She adds that, “Africa is caught between both a climate crisis and widespread
while the new study quotes Africa’s total solar capacity energy poverty. Its leaders need to think creatively and be
as 5GW, according to BNEF figures it was 12.7GW in supported,” he adds. The authors of the new study note that,
2020 and is expected to be 16.7GW by the end of 2021. with floating solar still a relatively new technology, there remain
An additional benefit provided by floating solar panels many unknowns, such as the impacts on water quality and
on hydropower reservoirs comes from their potential to technical challenges including the impact of bird fouling and
reduce water loss during periods of drought by form- corrosion. Gyamfi says these issues will vary considerably be-
ing a shield that blocks any evaporating moisture. This, tween countries and notes that more research will be needed to
in turn, could further boost the power output from the determine how best to scale up floating solar in the region. The
dams. The paper found that using floating panels that authors say the nations that stand to benefit most from floating
fully cover 1% of the water surface would increase solar are northern African countries, as well as South Africa,
hydropower output by 0.17% due to water savings. “For owing to their relatively low hydropower capacity. Virtually all of
a continent that will need to cherish every last drop as South Africa’s electricity is currently provided by coal, while na-
global heating continues to rise, this is significant,” says tions such as Algeria and Libya rely heavily on natural gas.
Adow.
The worlds largest floating solar energy plan in China has a capacity of 40 megawatts.

electric vehicle
TOP 5 ELECTRIC SCOOTERS TO BUY IN

INDIA IN 2021
The automobile industry is shifting towards electrification across the globe, and not just four-wheelers, but two-wheelers are also headed from
internal combustion engines to battery packs and electric motors. That said, a range of fully electric two-wheelers are now available in the Indian
market, and many more are expected to join the list soon.
But if you were planning to buy a new electric scooter, this list of the top 5
electric scooters available in the Indian market as of February 2021 will surely
help you –
1. Bajaj Chetak Electric Bajaj Auto launched its first electric scooter in India last
year, and named it after the iconic ‘Chetak’ scooter. The e-scooter comes packed
with a 3.8 kW/4.1 kW (continuous/peak power) electric motor, which is paired to a
lithium-ion battery pack that delivers a range of 95 km in Eco mode, and 85 km in
Sport mode.
The Chetak has been positioned as a premium product, and hence, gets equipped Bajaj Chetak
with high-quality materials along with features like its feather touch switchgear,
full-LED lighting, as well as a digital instrument cluster. The scooter is available
in two variants, namely Urbane and Premium, priced at Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.15 lakh
(ex-showroom) respectively.
2. Ather 450 Ather Energy is an Indian electric vehicle startup currently focused on
making e-scooters for the country. Its first scooter ‘450’ was launched back in 2018,
and comes equipped with an IP67 rated 2.4 kWh battery pack. The scooter has a
claimed range of 75 km in Eco mode, while Sport mode will bring the range down
to 55 km. Ather retails the 450 at Rs 1.13 lakh (on-road, New Delhi), after all the
subsidies. Ather 450

electric vehicle
HUAWEI FILES TWO

PATENTS RELATED TO
ELECTRIC VEHICLES,
SAYS NEW REPORT
Chinese tech giant Huawei is planning to make electric cars under its own brand, and now a new report has claimed that the company has filed a couple
S
of patents relating to the same.
pecifically, two patents filed by The second patent with application In addition, another Chinese tech company
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. number CN112436779A is also for an Xiaomi is also planning to build its own car
titled “An Electric Drive System, electric drive system, a powertrain, and and is considering it as a strategic decision,
Powertrain, and Electric Vehicle”. an electric vehicle, which involves the
but specific details and the path it aims to take
The patents were both filed on Oc- field of power electronics technology.
tober 21, 2020, and have the application num- Huawei is in talks with state-owned are yet to be determined. Back in 2013, Lei Jun
bers CN112436747A and CN112436779A, Changan Automobile and other auto- had visited the US twice to meet with Tesla
reports GizmoChina. The patent description makers to use their car plants to make CEO Elon Musk and now it seems that its inter-
published with the model bearing the applica- its electric vehicles (EVs). Huawei is est on the field has grown. The Indian market
tion number CN112436747A shows that this also in discussions with Beijing-backed has also seen a demand for smart vehicles,
application provides an electric drive system, BAIC Group’s BluePark New Energy and auto companies like Tata, Mahindra and
a powertrain, and an electric vehicle, which Technology to manufacture its EVs. others are offering their electric vehicles.
involves the technical field of electronic
circuits.
KIA SHARES A GLIMPSE OF ITS FIRST

DEDICATED ELECTRIC VEHICLE:
DETAILS HERE
Kia Motors has given us a glimpse of its first upcoming electric vehicle EV6. This new car will be the first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) built
on the company’s new EV platform (Electric-Global Modular Platform, or E-GMP). The company claims that the EV6 is also the first of Kia’s next-genera-
A
tion BEVs which will be developed under a new design philosophy which will embodiy Kia’s shifting focus towards electrification.
s part of the company’s naming

strategy for upcoming dedicated
BEVs as well as for brand transi-
EV6 is the embodiment of both tion, Kia’s new dedicated battery
our brand purpose, ‘Movement electric vehicles will be named
that inspires’, and our new design according to a new naming strategy. The new
philosophy. It has been designed to approach brings simplicity and consistency
inspire every journey by offering an to Kia’s EV nomenclature across all global
instinctive and natural experience markets. According to an official statement by
that improves the daily lives of our the company, the names of the new dedicated
customers, and provide user owner- BEVs will start with the prefix ‘EV’ which
ship that is simple, intuitive and makes it easy for consumers to understand
integrated, said Karim Habib, Senior which of Kia’s products are fully electric.
Vice President and Head of Kia This will be followed by a number that will
Global Design Center. “Our aim is to correspond to the car’s position in the line-up.
design the physical experience of our Kia will be sticking to the launch schedule
brand and to create bold, original and announced earlier, the EV6 will make its world
inventive electric vehicles.” premiere during the first quarter of 2021.

electric vehicle
Fuel price hike results in

increased sale of
e-vehicles
With the fuel price hike, e-cycle, e scooter and
e-rickshaw sale has increased in the last two-three
months, one of the directors of Avon Cycles, Omkar
Singh Pahwa said. “Our company is growing at a
pace of 15 per cent to 20 per cent every year in the
sale of e-bikes and e-vehicles, especially after the
fuel price hike. That bike is a great option to avoid
traffic in big cities, the reason people are preferring
W
e-bike. If the prices of petrol and diesel will keep
going up, the market of the bike will get double
in the coming time. This will benefit the industry ith the prices of petrol inching
immensely,” closer to Rs 100 per litre, the
demand for battery-operated scoot-
ers is on the rise. People want to
save on fuel costs and as a result,
the sale of e-scooters has increased considerably in
The number of inquiries from prospective buyers about e-scooters has Ludhiana. Hero MotoCorp, which holds 70 per cent
also witnessed a three-fold rise from the past two-three months, after of the total sale, followed by Avon and other bicycle
the hike in petrol and diesel prices, there is a growth of 20 per cent to manufacturing companies, sold 14,000 e-bikes in
25 per cent in the e-vehicle business said the director of Hero Moto- 2019 and 30,000 e-bikes in 2020, which shows the
Corp, Abhishek Munjal. “For the last two-three years, we have seen rise in demand for battery-operated vehicles. The
double the growth in eBike sale, so that we are likely to keep doubling number of inquiries from prospective buyers about
every year in the coming years if the rates of petrol and diesel keep in- e-scooters has also witnessed a three-fold rise from
creasing. We are happy to say that Hero Group has the highest share of the past two-three months, after the hike in petrol and
70 per cent of e-bikes in India and we have created many new models diesel prices, there is a growth of 20 per cent to 25
to help people to travel 20 to 25 kilometers in cities,” said Munjal. “The per cent in the e-vehicle business said the director of
e-bikes are economic and good for health also,” he added. Hero MotoCorp, Abhishek Munjal.
Elon Musk tweets if ‘Androids dream of electric cars?’.

Here’s how world reacted
The Tesla CEO recently shared a tweet asking if ‘Androids dream of electric cars?’ and as always, Twitterati have gone bonkers shar-
M
ing opinions and memes and on Musk’s latest tweet.
usk is known for his out of the box humour
as he can be found tweeting a dozen of
memes, relating to day-to-day life and also
business. A meme shared by the Tesla CEO
Androids do dream of electric cars which is will be beneficial to on Dogecoin rocketed the value of the
the society cos it causes less environmental hazard like air pol-
lesser-known cryptocurrency several hundred times. Musk
lution, noise pollution, it is cheaper & easier to drive. However
was recently overtaken (again) by the Amazon CEO, Jeff
android cars do have some disadvantages which may pose
problems to their owners, one of Musk’s followers wrote. While Bezos which replaced Musk as the world’s richest person.
another follower of Musk replied to the tweet writing, “Androids Musk has been swapping the top spot with Bezos since Janu-
dream of electric money.” ary as the value of Tesla fluctuated.

electric vehicle
How Europe became world’s

biggest electric-car market and
why it might not last
European consumers are buying electric cars at a faster pace than ever, encouraged by government subsidies and the availability
T
for the first time of models built by their favorite brands.
he boom is so strong that Europe passed China Around 65 new EV models launched in Europe last
as the world’s largest electric-vehicle market last year—twice as many as in China—and another 99 are
year. Its share of new electric-car sales nearly slated to come to market this year. That compares with 15
doubled to 43%, while China and the US lost launches in North America last year and a planned 64 this
market share. But Europe’s surge relies heavily year. Manufacturers say the incentives and an explosion
on government incentives doled out during the pandemic, and in the number of new EV models came together at the
analysts warn the momentum could be reversed if and when right time, energizing both supply and demand.
that support is withdrawn. Most government EV subsidies are
limited in scope and due to expire by the end of this year.
You have to have the right product on offer…That’s what we

saw last year in Europe, said Britta Seeger, board member at
Daimler AG in charge of global sales. “The offer is better, and
The market is extremely sensitive to government and company subsidies are supporting sales.”
discounts, said Arndt Ellinghorst, auto analyst at Bernstein
Research. “Once subsidies are taken away EV sales will collapse The availability of EVs with familiar brand names is
also pushing sales. Hallgeir Langeland, a 65-year-old
by 30-40% at least for one or two quarters.”
Norwegian environmentalist and former politician,
Without the subsidies, EVs are still considerably more hasn’t owned a car for 25 years, but when Ford Motor
expensive than equivalent combustion-engine vehicles. This Co. rolled out a fully electric version of its Mustang
isn’t likely to change until later this decade, analysts say, as last year, he didn’t think twice. “I had to have it,” he
said, recalling the Mustang he drove in his youth. Now
battery prices come down because of new technology, greater
he can’t wait for it to arrive in March. “It’s cherry red.”
scale and competition. Europe’s approach started with more The purchase was made easier by subsidies that have
sticks than carrots. The European Union in particular has made Norway the world’s biggest EV market per capita,
steadily tightened emissions requirements, prompting the prompting a tongue-in-cheek Super Bowl ad by General
industry to roll out more electric cars and hybrids, or face Motors Co. starring Will Ferrell, who called on American
hefty fines. When the pandemic hit, governments looking to consumers to buy EVs and crush Norway. Christian
cushion the economic shock began targeting aid at industries Burg, who runs a business building energy-efficient
on the front line of the battle with climate change. A big part houses in Germany, had driven a diesel BMW X3 SUV
of this assistance went into incentives for consumers to buy for years. When the government boosted subsidies for
EVs, creating a surge in demand. The moves changed the electric cars last summer, he applied for a small-busi-
perception among industry leaders that there wasn’t a market ness grant and switched to the new iX3 plug-in hybrid
to justify the huge investments needed to build electric cars. version of the car. “We received 3,750 euros [equivalent
to $4,500] in cash incentives,” he said.
Sales of plug-in electric vehicles in Europe rose 137%
to 1.4 million vehicles last year, outpacing China, which
recorded a 12% increase to 1.3 million, and the U.S.,
We have an incentive to build these cars…It helps make the EV where sales rose 4% to 328,000, according to ev-volumes.
very attractive for the consumer, said Hakan Samuelsson, chief com, a research group. The state of Europe’s market is
executive of Volvo Cars, the Swedish car maker owned by China’s reminiscent of China’s electric-vehicle trajectory years
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. “But long term these incentives ago. Determined to leapfrog Western markets, Beijing
and tax breaks are not sustainable.” provided hefty subsidies for purchases and required
manufacturers to ensure that a certain percentage of new
Car makers began rolling out new models in earnest last cars produced each year were electric. The effort helped
year. Volkswagen AG, Europe’s biggest auto maker, unveiled spawn hundreds of startups and boosted the share of EVs
its ID.3 and ID.4 models. Premium car makers such as BMW to more than 8% of new-car sales by mid-2019. Then Bei-
AG, Mercedes and Audi launched high-end EVs. This year, jing slashed incentives in June 2019 and sales plunged,
Mercedes is set to launch the EQS, which will be an electric with the share of EVs falling below 5% by the end of the
and highly automated successor to the flagship S-Class. year.

electric vehicle
Sterling And Wilson Part-

ners With Enel X To Enter
Electric Mobility Segment
In India
The joint venture between Sterling and Wilson and Enel X will be incorporated on April 1, 2021 and will start operating from the
second quarter of 2021. Sterling and Wilson Pvt Ltd (SWPL), a Shapoorji Pallonji group company and India’s leading engineering,
procurement, and construction (EPC) company, announced that it has entered the Electric Mobility segment in India. SWPL has
signed a 50-50 joint venture (JV) with Enel X, a subsidiary of Enel Group, known for its innovative products and digital energy solu-
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tions, to launch and create world-class electric charging infrastructure in the Indian sub-continent.
he JV intends to give a boost to the fast-evolving
private e-mobility ecosystem by providing world-
class products and software platforms to support
the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure
build-up across the country. For SWPL and Enel
X, this is a major step towards sustainability and a greener fu-
ture that can boost India’s e-mobility ambitions. At the same
time, consumers can access and benefit immensely from Enel
X’s vast range of cutting-edge electric vehicle chargers. With
this partnership, SWPL will introduce Enel X’s Juice family
of high-tech, digital, and smart DC as well as fast AC electri-
cal vehicle chargers that already have worldwide recognition,
adjusted to the needs of the Indian consumer. Customers
will have the opportunity to choose how, where, and when to
charge their car, potentially selecting the most efficient time
for charging, thus making the charging experience fully con-
trollable, easy, and convenient. This platform also facilitates
asset operators and owners to track the performance of charg-
ing stations and networks, as well as troubleshoot systems in
real-time.
Mr. Francesco Venturini, Enel X CEO,
said “This partnership represents an
important step forward in our energy
transition strategy. We are leading the
spread of electric mobility in several
Mr. Sanjay Jadhav, CEO, Sterling Genera- global markets, including Europe and
tors Pvt Ltd, said “As part of our commit- North America and we are thrilled to
ment to sustainability, we are happy work with Sterling and Wilson, mark-
to announce our entry into the electric ing our entry into the Indian market.
mobility segment through a joint venture Joining forces allows our teams to
with Enel X, providing end-to-end services leverage our extensive market knowl-
for electric vehicle charging stations across edge and technical experience, helping
India. The quick electric charger will be to deliver effective results, as well as
a game-changer for the EV sector in the making important steps towards a
country and is in line with the national clean and sustainable future.
vision to combat fossil fuel pollution and
associated climate change through accel- We will support the JV by bringing electric mobility
erated electrification of private and public solutions to market that are fit for local needs, accessible,
transportation as a prime lever. and convenient for all drivers, significantly contributing
to the decarbonization of the transport sector across India
The JV will help create direct and indirect employment and subsequently South East Asia”. The joint venture
through local manufacturing and operations & mainte- between Sterling and Wilson and Enel X will be incorpo-
nance services of the charging infrastructure.” rated on April 1, 2021 and will start operating from the

electric vehicle
Betting on death of
petrol cars, Volvo
to go all electric by
2030
Volvo’s entire car lineup will be fully electric by 2030, the Chinese-owned company said, joining a growing number of automakers
planning to phase out fossil-fuel engines by the end of this decade
I am totally convinced there will be no

customers who really want to stay with
a petrol engine, Volvo Chief Execu-
tive Hakan Samuelsson told reporters
when asked about future demand for
electric vehicles. “We are convinced
that an electric car is more attractive for
T
customers.”
he Swedish-based carmaker said 50% of its global

sales should be fully-electric cars by 2025 and the
other half hybrid models. Owned by Hangzhou-
based Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Volvo will
launch a new family of electric cars in the next
few years, all of which will be sold online only, it unveiled Electrification is expensive for carmakers and as electric
the first of those models, the C40, a fully electric SUV, which vehicles have fewer moving parts, employment in the car
will have an initial battery range of around 420 kilometres industry is expected to shrink. Volvo CEO Samuelsson
(261 miles). Volvo will include wireless upgrades and fixes said that industry-wide, electrification will mostly affect
for its new electric models – an approach originally pioneered engine plants and auto suppliers providing everything
from oil filters to fuel injectors and spark plugs. “Those
by electric carmaker Tesla Inc. This means the C40’s range
are a lot of jobs of course,” he said. “But overall I don’t
will be extended over time with software upgrades, Chief think there will be a big difference.” Volvo said it will
Technology Officer Henrik Green said. Carmakers are racing “radically reduce” the complexity of its model line-up
to switch to zero-emission models as they face CO2 emis- and provide customers with transparent pricing. The car-
sions targets in Europe and China, plus looming bans in some maker’s global network of 2,400 traditional bricks-and-
countries on fossil fuel vehicles. Last month, Ford Motor Co mortar dealers will remain open to service vehicles and
said its lineup in Europe will be fully electric by 2030, while to help customers make online orders. So far Volvo has
Tata Motors unit Jaguar Land Rover said its luxury Jaguar not been affected by a pandemic-fueled global semicon-
brand will be entirely electric by 2025 and the carmaker ductor chip shortage that has temporarily shut a number
will launch electric models of its entire line-up by 2030. In of assembly plants, which Samuelsson said was thanks
November, luxury carmaker Bentley, owned by Germany’s to constant communication with suppliers. “So far,
knock on wood, we have not had to stop any assembly
Volkswagen, said its models would be all electric by 2030.
line,” he said. “But it could happen any day.”

electric vehicle
Scots councils
plan EV charging
tariffs
More councils in central Scotland are preparing to introduce tariffs for electric vehicle drivers using public chargepoints. As well as
N
reducing the authority’s own electricity costs, the councils hope charges will encourage the private sector to install more charge-
points.
orth and South Lanarkshire councils are the council Patterson said that, although the project had
members of the £5.3m PACE project to accelerate expanded EV charging coverage, it was “unlikely
the introduction of rapid and fast chargers. It also that the council will be viewed as the primary
includes the Scottish Government, Scottish and provider of this infrastructure in the longer term”.
Southern Electricity Networks, and Scottish Power “Commercial operators will be unable to compete
with free charging. In the longer term this may
Energy Networks. The first chargers delivered by the project were
act as a constraint to the rollout of commercially
installed at Strathclyde Park last July. Installations have since been operated chargers.”
made in Coatbridge, Airdrie, Cumbernauld, Motherwell, Kilsyth,
Wishaw, Moodiesburn, Viewpark, and Shotts. West Lothian Council also plans to introduce
charges. Peter Rogers, energy and climate change
manager, said charges would “create more favour-
able market conditions for private sector investment
in network development”. West Lothian’s tariff for
Although the chargers have been operational for a short time there is rapid (over 43kW) chargers will be: £1 minimum
evidence that commercial operators are taking advantage of the free charge, £0.30 unit rate/kWh, maximum stay limit
electricity, particularly at the Strathclyde Park site, Nicole Patterson, of 45 minutes, and an overstay charge of £1/minute.
head of environmental assets, told North Lanarkshire’s environment For fast and standard chargers (7-22kW), the tariffs
and transportation committee. The council is to explore introducing will be: £1 minimum charge, £0.16 unit rate/kWh,
tariffs. no maximum stay.

electric vehicle
Ahmedabad based electric vehicle startup

MATTER...
targets $1B turnover by
2025
EV startup Matter plans to launch its lithium-ion batteries, followed by its electric motorbike this year. 1.4K CLAPS +0 +0 Bullish on
the growth of electric vehicles (EV) market in India, EV and energy storage technology startup Matter expects to clock a turnover of
$1 billion (over Rs 7,250 crore) by 2025, according to a top company official.
T
he Ahmedabad-based company, which has so far “2021 is the year of the electric…The industry as a whole
invested $3 million (over Rs 20 crore), will be would be much larger in five years time than even the
launching its lithium-ion batteries for solar and best of estimates. We are expecting the same thing that
renewable management by April 2021, which will happened with 4G, the rate of adoption of 4G exploded
be followed by its first electric motorcycle closer above everyone’s expectations, and that is what we are
expecting with EVs as well,”
to Diwali this year. “2021 is the motorcycle closer to Diwali
this year. Explaining the rationale, he said with India wanting
to become a $5 trillion economy and its commitment to
the Paris Climate Change Agreement, the country has no
option but to switch to EVs, eco-friendly newer energies
and energy solutions. On why the sector has not been
The industry as a whole able to grow in the past, Lalbhai said, “Electric (vehicles)
would be much larger in five fundamentally in India have either been overpriced
years time than even the best products or under-delivering products. There has never
of estimates. We are expect- been a true value for money fit.” Stating that customers
ing the same thing that understand internal combustion engine vehicle and its
happened with 4G, the rate value proposition, he further said, “But in electrics, there
of adoption of 4G exploded are some companies which are 100 percent more expen-
above everyone’s expecta- sive than the comparable internal combustion, some who
tions, and that is what we are are 20 percent cheaper, but they don’t really deliver”.
expecting with EVs as well,” He said inferior quality Chinese product kits are brought
Matter Founder and CEO in and assembled in India, and then and sold at much
Mohal Lalbhai told PTI. cheaper prices.

electric vehicle
Flipkart to
deploy more
than 25,000 EVs
in supply chain
E-commerce market-
place Flipkart will deploy
more than 25,000 electric
vehicles (EVs) by 2030 in
line with its commitment
to fast-track their adop-
tion in the country. Besides
transitioning to EVs across
its city logistics fleet, it
will help set up charging
infrastructure around the
company’s delivery hubs
F
and offices.
lipkart said, it has
already started de-
ploying two-wheeler
and three-wheeler
electric vehicles in
multiple locations for deliv-
ery across the country, including in Delhi, Bengaluru,
Hyderabad, Kolkata, Guwahati and Pune. The company’s
electric fleet will include two-wheeler, three-wheeler and Electrification of the logistics fleet is a key
four-wheeler vehicles designed and assembled in India, part of Flipkart’s larger sustainability goal
helping boost local innovation and economy. Flipkart and in line with our commitment to the Cli-
has partnered with leading EV manufacturers including mate Group’s EV100 initiative, said Amitesh
Hero Electric, Mahindra Electric and Piaggio for specific Jha, Senior Vice-President for E-kart and
vehicles to be deployed for its first and last mile delivery Marketplace at Flipkart. “We understand the
fleet across the country. The company said it will also relevance of electric mobility in achieving
place requirements in service contracts, install charging both business and sustainability goals, and
infrastructure close to its 1,400 supply chain facilities, are committed to paving the way for greater
conduct awareness programmes and encourage delivery adoption of EVs across the country,” he said in
executives to use EVs. a statement.

electric vehicle
Mukesh Ambani says he will

make batteries ahead of a
boom in electric vehicles
As of now, Ambani’s plan sounds a lot like Elon Musk’s Tesla minus the electric vehicles.
India’s richest man is making a strategic shift towards renewable energy.
This is significant because over 60% of RIL’s consolidated revenue comes from fossil fuels and their by-products.
Global investment bank Morgan Stanley expects RIL to pump in $13 billion to $15 billion into renewable energy space
in the next 10 years.
One of the reasons for RIL hiving off its oil-to-chemicals business is to revive the deal talks with Saudi Arabia’s Ar-
amco.
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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia itself is planning to invest in renewables in a big way and reduce its carbon footprint.
he possibility of a stake sale to Saudi Ara-
bia’s Aramco is only one part of the story
behind Reliance Industries hiving off its
oil-to-chemicals business. This is also part
of a strategic shift by Ambani to renewable
energy. “RIL will further accelerate its new energy and
new materials business towards its vision of clean and
green energy development,” the company said in its
filing with the stock exchanges. Is Ambani trying to be
Elon Musk minus the electric vehicles? Tesla makes
the lion’s share of its revenue from selling electric cars
but its owner Elon Musk is investing in a big way in
the energy generation and storage business⁠, which in-
cludes batteries and solar panels⁠. As it seems, Ambani
too may invest in similar spaces except for the electric
cars. There is a reason why two of the world’s richest
men are going big in this space. “The rate of station-
ary (energy) storage is going to grow exponentially.
For many years to come each incremental year will be
about as much as all of the preceding years, which is
a crazy, crazy growth rate,” Musk said in 2018. And,
this segment has grown 72% in the one year ending
December 2020, despite the pandemic and the ensuing
crisis. Global investment bank Morgan Stanley expects
Ambani-owned Reliance, India’s biggest private sector
conglomerate, to pump in $13 billion to $15 billion
into this space in the next 10 years, to capture a $50
billion opportunity in renewables, batteries, and new
fuels. This is significant because fossil fuels and their
by products contribute to 60% of RIL’s consolidated
revenue.
The stock of RIL opened up 2%. Much of the cheer

was because Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, the world’s Another reason why Ambani may have pivoted to renewables is
seventh largest company by revenue, was back on the because Saudi Arabia, world’s largest crude oil producer, itself is
table for deal talks. Aramco, owned by the Kingdom planning to pivot to cleaner energy sources and reduce its carbon
of Saudi Arabia, agreed to buy a 20% stake in RIL’s emission.The kingdom reportedly plans to attract over $20 billion
oil-to-chemicals business for $15 billion. However, the investment into renewables, according to S&P Global Platts.
deal talks hit a speed bump due to the pandemic. The scale and potential of Ambani’s plan is yet to unravel, but it is
safe to assume that it will be sizeable.

hydrogen
HOW SIEMENS ENERGY Siemens Energy is among global power systems giants
such as Mitsubishi Power, General Electric and Wärtsilä
designing a new generation of turbines and engines to
IS TARGETING THE US
run on hydrogen. While Mitsubishi won the contract to
supply turbines to the Intermountain project, “we have a
good shot to create the hydrogen” to fuel them, Richard
Voorberg, vice president of global service operations for
GREEN HYDROGEN OP- Siemens Energy, said in a December interview. Siemens

Energy is also supplying the steam turbines, alongside GE
gas-fired turbines, for a $65 million, 20-megawatt green
PORTUNITY
Green hydrogen is both an untested and a potentially vital way for
hydrogen project being built by Florida Power & Light,
the utility subsidiary of NextEra Energy, the country’s
biggest renewable energy developer, Voorberg said. That
project envisions turning excess solar into hydrogen to
renewable-energy-powered grids to store their intermittent power for augment the natural-gas supply for FPL’s 1.75-gigawatt
later use, not just for hours at a time, but for days, weeks or even seasons Okeechobee power plant, and it could be online by 2023.
ahead. Most of the early-stage work on hydrogen’s grid storage potential Siemens Silyzer technology, meanwhile, is competing with
is happening in Europe and Asia, but the U.S. does have a few projects taking a host of electrolyzer technologies seeking to capitalize on
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steps toward proving out the concept. major governmental targets, starting with the European
ake the Intermountain Power Project, the Union’s 2030 target to deploy 40 gigawatts of electrolyzers
coal-fired power plant in Utah converting to within its own borders and another 40 GW in neighboring
turbines that will use natural gas blended countries.
with 30 percent hydrogen, a proportion that
will rise to 100 percent hydrogen over the THE U.S. GREEN HYDROGEN MARKET LANDSCAPE
coming decades. That 840 megawatts of The U.S. lacks a national hydrogen energy strategy like
generation capacity, serving customers in- Europe’s, or like South Korea’s plan to have 15 gigawatts
cluding California’s Los Angeles Department of hydrogen-powered fuel cells by 2040 and become
of Water and Power, could become a source the world’s largest fuel cell-powered vehicle maker by
of increasingly low-carbon energy fueled by decade’s end. But U.S. power plant operators are starting
hydrogen stored in massive underground to expand their ambitions. In September, three groups
caverns — if the systems to use renew- including Intermountain announced their intention to buy
able energy to convert water to hydrogen about 3,300 megawatts of hydrogen-capable turbines
via electrolysis and store it for later use can and hydrogen generation and storage systems from
combine in a cost-effective way. Siemens Mitsubishi. Utilities facing the challenge of decarbonizing
Energy announced a U.S. Energy Depart- their power systems see green hydrogen as an important
ment grant-funded project to study how its addition to batteries to store wind and solar power for use
Silyzer electrolyzers could be combined when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. The
with hydrogen compression, storage and earliest entrants into the field have access to large under-
power plant controls technology to meet ground salt domes now used for storing fossil fuels that
those goals at Intermountain. It’s the latest could be converted to storing hydrogen, like Intermoun-
of three grants to the energy systems spinoff tain and New Orleand-based utility Entergy. Massive stor-
of the German industrial giant to test its age capacity is key to the promise of using hydrogen at
hydrogen technology in the U.S., including a scales that could allow power plants now burning natural
small-scale pilot with Southeast utility Duke gas to tap the carbon-neutral gas to fire turbines for days
Energy and South Carolina’s Clemson Uni- or weeks at a time. Today’s lithium-ion battery technolo-
versity, and another to design, build and test gies are limited to about four to eight hours of storage ca-
a compressor system to integrate hydrogen pacity, and overbuilding enough battery capacity to cover
into existing fossil fuel generation. longer periods of time would drastically expand costs.

hydrogen
That limitation is driving research into longer- Siemens Energy’s project with Duke and Clemson, for example,
duration energy storage, from novel battery is testing the value of capturing excess heat from a 15-megawatt
chemistries to kinetic or thermal storage systems, turbine to supply the university campus district heat system, he said.
that could help replace the need for fueled genera- It’s also examining the value of generating and storing hydrogen on-
tion to ensure reliable grid power amid the global site, to allow the campus grid to maintain low-carbon power produc-
push to decarbonize generation. Major U.S. fuel tion amid larger grid failures. Whether or not the economics of using
cell makers including Bloom Energy and Plug excess renewable energy to generate hydrogen can pencil out may
Power are expanding into electrolyzers to provide well depend on how market structures are developed to integrate it.
the green hydrogen to fuel on-site and distributed Using only excess wind and solar power to generate hydrogen may
electricity generation, as well as to serve carbon- underutilize the capital costs of the electrolyzer, storage and transport
free transportation. infrastructure needed to put it to use. But the resulting stored energy
could also reliably provide power for rare but critical gaps in renew-
THE CHALLENGES FOR GREEN HYDROGEN AS A able power supply, putting the onus on policymakers and energy
regulators to create structures that can support it, Michael Liebreich,
POWER GRID RESOURCE CEO of Liebreich Associates and the founder of BloombergNEF,
But multiple challenges face efforts to use green wrote in an October blog post.
hydrogen as a long-duration energy storage option. Duke Energy, one of a growing number of major U.S. utilities
First of all, the efficiency of turning clean electricity into pledging zero-carbon emissions by 2050, is looking for opportu-
hydrogen, and then burning that hydrogen to gener- nities to test the reliability and economics of hydrogen-powered
ate power, is “somewhere in the 40 to 50 percent level,” turbines as one of the “emerging technologies” it will rely on to
Voorberg said. “That becomes pretty expensive,” he reach its goal, Voorberg said. Converting the nation’s natural-
said. “One of the challenges we’ve got is how to increase gas power plant fleet to a fuel that’s only being produced at a
the efficiencies,” whether through reducing the cost of minuscule scale today will require “a scale-up of epic propor-
clean power and electrolysis systems or by capturing tions,” he said. “This is a market that will dynamically change.
additional uses for the energy outputs involved. None of us know quite what it will look like.”
GERMAN STEEL GIANT THYSSENKRUPP PLANS

500MW GREEN HYDROGEN PLANT
German industrial engineering and steel production giant Thyssenkrupp will work with German energy company Steag are planning a 500MW hydrogen
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electrolysis plant intended to power steel production.
he HydrOxy Hub Walsum project is expected The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and
to be connected to the grid and producing Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) jointly announced in
green, renewable-powered hydrogen by as January that the Mohammed bin Rashid solar project
soon as 2025. Set to be built in Walsum, its in Dubai had started generating electricity for EGA’s
proximity to Thyssenkrupp’s Duisburg steel aluminium smelter, providing 560,000 megawatt-hours of
production plant will also avoid the need to power each year, sufficient for the production of 40,000
construct an elaborate supply system, and tonnes of aluminium.
allow the project and subsequent hydrogen
powered steel production to be implemented
much quicker. The HydrOxy Hub Walsum hydrogen project is
intended as a first step in decarbonising steel production in
Germany and act as a test case to be later expanded across
Europe. Thyssenkrupp’s steel production facility in Duisburg Aluminium is lightweight,
is “the largest steel location in the EU,” according to Dr. Ralf strong and infinitely recyclable
Schiele, responsible within the STEAG management for the metal and these properties
Market and Technology divisions, and subsequently serves as a mean that as a material it plays
promising example of the value of climate-neutral steel produc- a vital global role in the develop-
tion. Further, the Thyssenkrupp and STEAG project in Duisburg- ment of a sustainable future,
Walsum falls at the crossroads of the hydrogen objectives of the said Abdulnasser Bin Kalban,
German Federal Government and the European Union’s own Chief Executive Officer of EGA.
hydrogen strategy. Additionally, if successful, the HydrOxy Hub
“However, it also matters how sustainably aluminium
Walsum project would contribute directly to achieving Ger-
is made. CelestiAL aluminium, made in the UAE with
many’s emissions targets set out in the Federal Climate Change
solar power, will help make modern life possible for
Act. As renewables and green hydrogen projects continue to
people around the world whilst protecting our planet
grow in popularity and demand, the decarbonisation of industrial
for future generations. This is a great milestone for
production will become a more attractive prospect for compa-
the UAE and our industry.”
nies. Thyssenkrupp’s plan to decarbonise its steel production
comes just over a month after Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) In turn, at the beginning of February, German luxury
began producing aluminium powered by electricity generated by vehicle manufacturer BMW announced that it had signed
the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in the United a contract to source its aluminium from Emirates Global
Arab Emirates. Aluminium’s new CelestiAL production line.

hydrogen
WHAT IS NATIONAL HYDROGEN ENERGY MISSION (NHEM)? ALL

ABOUT ITS SIGNIFICANCE, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
HERE
National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHEM) has been introduced by the Finance Minister in her budgetary speech. Know more about this mission and the
uses of hydrogen as a fuel here
WHY IN NEWS?
It was in the Budget speech of this year that the Finance Battery Powered Electric Vehicles use fully electric,
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman included the introduction of rechargeable batteries with no petrol.
National Hydrogen Energy Mission. The Government has also
Plug In Hybrid Vehicles use batteries plus petrol
started holding Green Hydrogen auctions. There are also talks
to mandate the usage of 10% domestic hydrogen in fertilizer, Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles use hydrogen plus oxygen
steel and oil refineries. as fuel. These are fully electric but are not rechargeable
like Battery powered electric vehicles.
NATIONAL HYDROGEN ENERGY MISSION: INDUSTRIES Take a look at a hydrogen vehicle below:
TO BENEFIT
The end users are said to be steel, chemical and transporta-
tion industry. These contribute to one third of greenhouse gas
emissions due to the amount of fossil fuels they burn, which
can be directly replaced with hydrogen. Despite being said the
hydrogen technology was not scaled up.
NATIONAL HYDROGEN ENERGY MISSION: SIGNIFICANCE

Hydrogen is said to be the alternative fuel and would re-
place fossil fuels
India has set its goals to de-carbonize itself by 2050.
This along with its ambitious goal of 175 GW of renewable
energy capacity that was given impetus in the Union Budget
2021-22 would also get to raise INR 1500 crore finance NATIONAL HYDROGEN ENERGY MISSION: ADVANTAGES
NATIONAL HYDROGEN ENERGY MISSION: REASON OF HYDROGEN FUEL
FOR IMPLEMENTATION It has near zero carbon footprint. The electricity to
extract hydrogen comes from fossil fuels.
India’s heavy dependence on coal and the need to replace
fossil fuels with hydrogen. It can be stored in tanks such as CNG and can be inte-
grated into car’s be,lies.
Since it is estimated hydrogen helped in the formation of
Earth, it would be more abundant than Oxygen. The average that can be provided is about 500 kilome-
tre or 400 miles per charge.
The fuel would be used and can be reused again as it would
control pollution. It is lighter than heavy Lithium ion batteries, better for
long haul trucks and commercial vehicles.
It is said to be 2-3 times better than petrol.
It can be refueled in 5 minutes.
NATIONAL HYDROGEN ENERGY MISSION: NATIONAL HYDROGEN ENERGY MISSION:
TYPES OF HYDROGEN DISADVANTAGES OF HYDROGEN FUEL
Green Hydrogen: It is produced from renewable resources
It has only three manufacturers that are equipped with
of energy and not fossil fuels. The by products are water
the technology- Honda, Toyota and Hyundai. Under
and water vapour
25000 hydrogen FCEVs on road were launched in
Blue Hydrogen: It is sourced from fossil fuels. The emission 2020, compared to EVs.
or the by products such as CO2 and CO are stored. It is bet-
Lack of Infrastructure: There are less than 500 hydro-
ter than grey hydrogen.
gen stations globally
Grey Hydrogen: India’s bulk comes from fossil fuels at pres-
Hydrogen has great explosion risk and is a highly com-
ent. This type of hydrogen is called grey hydrogen.
bustible gas.
TYPES OF VEHICLES BASED ON HYDROGEN: Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on the
earth. The global demand for hydrogen as a fuel has
There are various types of Electric Vehicles that would be
run using hydrogen. There are various categories of these
become thrice of what it was in 1975. It is also the only
vehicles: source of energy that only emits water vapour and leaves
no residue in the air. Due to these advantages hydrogen is
HEVs or Hybrid Electric Vehicles use high fuel economy and being seen as the biggest source of clean energy fuel in the
low tailpipe emission.
near future.

hydrogen
CENTRICA IN TALKS WITH U.K.

TO DEVELOP HYDROGEN
STORAGE
Centrica Plc is in talks with the U.K. government about plans to convert its disused Rough natural gas storage site off the coast of northeast England
T
to store hydrogen.
he conversion requires about 650 million
pounds ($908 million) of investment and would
create several thousand jobs during construc-
tion, Chris O’Shea chief executive officer said
in an interview. Rough closed in 2017 after
operating for over three decades. It had been
plagued by technical problems and became
too expensive to repair without government
funding. Now O’Shea sees the possibility of a
second life for the facility but it would still need
help from state coffers.
While Rough was once a jewel in Centrica’s crown, its

efficiency had declined with age and usage. Rough was
turned from a depleted gas reservoir into a storage site in
We’ve been working with government 1985. Its main function was to keep prices from jumping
and others to see if we could convert during the winter if demand rose beyond what the fields
Rough to store hydrogen for the U.K., could produce. The facility lost its strategic importance
with and influx of liquefied natural gas imports from
O’Shea said. “We need a regulated
the U.S.and Australia. Centrica’s decline is more wide-
model probably for that. It probably
reaching than just Rough. The company has struggled in
doesn’t work with a merchant model. recent years with dwindling profits and customers switch-
ing away from its energy supply business. O’Shea is
Centrica Shares Drop as Canceled Dividend Shows No Quick
trying to turn the company around with a new focus and
Fix Energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng visited the Rough gas
a promise to simplify the business made back in June.
field in August last year, O’Shea said. The government “look-
The utility shed 5,000 jobs and announced the sale of its
ing at how hydrogen technology can help us meet targets to
U.S. business for $3.6 billion. The remaining gas at the
eradicate our contribution to climate change by 2050,” the
Rough field will continue to be processed until early 2023
department for business energy and industrial strategy said
so conversion couldn’t happen before then. Adjustments
in by email. The site could be linked with the planned zero
would need to be made to the facility to ensure its safe to
carbon industrial cluster in the northeast of England. The
store hydrogen. Hydrogen is much lighter than methane
project is a hub of energy producers, industry, infrastructure
gas and the molecules much smaller so it escapes more
and engineering expertise powered by electricity that will
easily.
develop and use carbon capture and storage technology and
hydrogen. Centrica is a partner in the initiative along with “Hydrogen is not the only answer and I think we’re
Equinor AS, Drax Plc and Uniper SE The Humber cluster will going to have a mix of energies,” O’Shea said. “I
need a ready supply of hydrogen and if it’s only produced in think gas will be part of the energy mix for the next
one place, there could be security of supply issues, O’Shea 20 to 30 years but with cleaner gas, and having hy-
said. drogen means that can happen.”

hydrogen
EXPLAINED: WHAT IS HYDROGEN ECONOMY?

The hydrogen economy is an envisioned future where hydrogen is used as fuel for vehicles, energy storage and long-distance transport of energy. In
a bid to tap the energy potential of the most abundant element in the universe, Hydrogen, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a National
O
Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHEM) to transform transportation in India. The mission was announced during Union Budget 2021-22.
n 9 February 2021, the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE) Secretary Indu
HYDROGEN AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FUEL
Shekhar Chaturvedi stated that the Govern- Hydrogen is a zero-carbon fuel and is considered an
ment of India may come up with a draft on the alternative to fuel and a key source of clean energy. It
initiative in the coming months– a roadmap for can be produced from renewable sources of energy
using hydrogen as an energy source. In 2020, such as solar and wind. At present, there are a number
the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of ways to produce hydrogen, but the most common
issued a notification proposing amendments method is natural gas reforming and electrolysis.
to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules of 1989, to
include safety evaluation standards for hydro-
HYDROGEN ECONOMY IN INDIA
gen fuel cell-based vehicles. In 2016, Dr. K. India’s goal of attaining 175 GW of renewable energy
Kasturirangan committee, set up by MNRE, capacity by 2022 and to decarbonise by 2050 got an
prepared reports on Hydrogen and Fuel cells impetus in the Union Budget 2021-22. The Budget allo-
and suggested a way forward on the same. cated Rs. 1,500 crores for renewable-energy develop-
In 2006, the Ministry of New and Renewable ment and Hydrogen Energy Mission. In October 2020,
Energy (MNRE) constituted a high-level com- Delhi became the first Indian city to operate Hydrogen-
mittee to come up with a hydrogen energy enriched CNG (H-CNG) buses in a six-month pilot
roadmap. The roadmap was laid to provide a project. Companies such as Indian Oil Corporation and
blueprint for hydrogen energy development in NTPC Ltd are working towards this technology. IOC
India and underscored the technology gaps and has patented the technology for producing H-CNG—
challenges in the introduction of hydrogen on 18% hydrogen in CNG, directly from natural gas with-
large scale, in a phased manner. out restoring to conventional blending. It is also plan-
ning to set up a dedicated unit to produce hydrogen to
WHAT IS HYDROGEN ECONOMY? run buses at its Research and Development Centre in
Faridabad. On the other hand, state-run NTPC Ltd is
Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier and has the potential to
planning to start a premium hydrogen fuel bus service
address various energy sector challenges and technically from the
on the Delhi-Jaipur route (the first intercity service on
application point of view, substituting conventional fuels. Its use can
the aforementioned technology). It is also considering
reduce CO2 related emissions significantly and decarbonise the entire
to set up a green hydrogen production facility in Andhra
value chain, enabling reduced emissions and climate change threats.
Pradesh. The Government of India is planning to focus
Hydrogen can also bridge the gap between supply and demand, in
on five key areas: (a) Research and Development (b)
both a centralized or decentralized manner, thereby enhancing the
Demand creation (c) how to use it in the industry (d)
overall energy system flexibility. Hydrogen can be used to meet both
how to create an eco-system (e) how to bring it on
seasonal and daily supply-demand mismatch in the case of renew-
board along with international partnerships.
ables. In rural India, where there is no access to the grid, the use of
hydrogen can provide energy services. In 1970, the term ‘hydrogen NEED FOR HYDROGEN
economy’ was coined by John Bockris. He mentioned that a hydrogen
1- It is well-known that India’s electricity is heavily
economy can replace the current hydrocarbon-based economy, lead-
coal-dependent. Thus, the introduction of Hydrogen will
ing to a cleaner environment. The hydrogen economy is an envisioned
replace fossil fuels and will address pollution levels and
future where hydrogen is used as fuel for vehicles, energy storage
oil-price hike.
and long-distance transport of energy. The different pathways to use
hydrogen economy includes hydrogen production, storage, transport 2- Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the
and utilization. At present, the current global demand for hydrogen Universe. It is lighter, energy-dense and is two to three
is 70 million metric tons, most of which is being produced from fossil times more efficient than petrol.
fuels– 76% from natural gas and 23% from coal and remaining from 3- Hydrogen will benefit transportation which contrib-
the electrolysis of water— consumes 6% of the global natural gas utes 1/3 of India’s greenhouse-gas emissions, iron and
and 2% of the global coal. This results in CO2 emissions of around steel and chemical sectors.
830Mt/year out of which only 130Mt/year is being captured and used
in the fertilizer industry. Much of the hydrogen produced is used for TYPES OF HYDROGEN
oil refining (33%), ammonia (27%), methanol production (11%), steel 1- Grey Hydrogen: It constitutes India’s bulk production
production via DRI (3%) and others. Hydrogen production from natural and is extracted from hydrocarbons and is a byproduct
gas without CCUS is the most economic method at a cost of USD1/ of CO2.
kgH2 in the Middle East, while the electrolysis of water is the most 2- Blue Hydrogen: It is sourced from fossil fuels. By-
expensive one. However, if the renewables meet the heat/ electricity products of CO and CO2 is captured and stored. It is
requirements, hydrogen is produced using electrolysis or thermo- better than grey hydrogen.
chemical method. In India, hydrogen is being commercially produced
in the fertilizer industry, petroleum refining and chemical industries 3- Green Hydrogen: It is generated from renewable
and also as a by-product in chlorine alkali industries. A limited amount sources of energy such as solar and wind. The elec-
of hydrogen is also produced by electrolysis. tricity splits water into hydrogen and Oxygen. It is a
by-product of water and water vapour.

hydrogen
PROS AND CONS: The fuel cell-based vehicles combine hydrogen and oxygen
Pros: to produce electricity to power the electric motor on board.
1- It has near-zero carbon footprints. Since fuel cells use electricity to run, they are considered
electric vehicles. Hydrogen is drawn from an onboard pres-
2- It provides a range of about 440 miles or 550 km per
surised tank and made to react with a catalyst inside each
charge.
individual fuel cell that is made from platinum. As hydrogen
3- It is stored in tanks like CNG and integrated into cars’ bel- passes through a catalyst, it produces an electric current that
lies, unlike CNG. is used to power vehicles.
4- It is lighter than heavy lithium-ion batteries and is best for
long haul trucks and commercial vehicles. HISTORY
5- It refuels in 5 minutes. In 1874, Science fiction writer, Jules Verne set out a prescient
vision of the world in The Mysterious Land where water will
Cons:
be used as a fuel and generate an inexhaustible source of
1- It has only three manufacturers– Honda, Toyota and Hyun- heat and light, of an intensity of which coal is not capable.
dai. In the year 1937, a German passenger airship, LZ129 Hin-
2- There are only 25,000 Hydrogen FCEVs on road in 2020 as denburg, used hydrogen to fly across the Atlantic but explod-
compared to 8 million EVs. ed while docking at the Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New
3- There are less than 500 hydrogen stations globally. Jersey, killing at least 36 people. In the last 1960s, hydrogen
fuel cells powered NASA’s Apollo missions to the moon. In
4- It is highly combustible and is stored at very high pressure,
the 1970s, soon after the oil price shocks, the possibility of
up to 700 bar. The tank is outside the passenger bay.
replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen was considered seriously.
Honda, Toyota and Hyundai have since then started commer-
WORKING OF HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS cialising the technology on a limited scale. It is to be noted
Hydrogen is an energy carrier and not a source of energy. It that hydrogen is not found freely and has to be extracted
is transformed into electricity via a fuel cell stack before it can from naturally occurring compounds such as water. Although
be used to power a car or a truck. A fuel cell converts chemi- Hydrogen is a clean molecule, the process of extracting is
cal energy into electric energy with the help of an oxidation- energy-intensive.
reduction reaction.
GROUPE RENAULT AND FAURECIA COLLABORATE

ON HYDROGEN STORAGE SYSTEMS
Faurecia and Groupe Renault announced their decision to collaborate on hydrogen storage systems for hydrogen light commercial vehicles. Starting
T
at the end of 2021, Faurecia will supply hydrogen storage systems for a first fleet of light commercial vehicles.
hese systems will be devel-
oped and produced at its global
centre of expertise in Bavans,
France. As volumes, increase
production will be extended
to a new plant dedicated to
hydrogen storage systems that
Faurecia is building in Allenjoie,
France.
Mathias Miedreich, Executive

Vice President of Faurecia
Clean Mobility said, “Fuel cell
electric vehicle technology
is set to become significant
This collaboration on hydrogen storage systems is embedded
in the powertrain mix by
in Renault’s strategy to offer market-ready H2 solutions for light
2030, and as such Faurecia is dedicating important
commercial vehicles and target over 30% share of this market in
resources to accelerate its deployment.” Europe.

international
BRIGHT FUTURE OF HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS IN INDIA

Road transport today is responsible for a significant and growing share of global anthropogenic emissions of CO2. Moreover, it is almost entirely
dependent on oil-derived fuels and therefore highly vulnerable to possible oil price shocks and supply disruptions. Improving road transport requires
I
all these issues to be addressed.
ntroducing alternative transport fuels and vehicles
will also be necessary to achieve the objectives
of decarbonization, energy security and urban
air quality. Fuel cell is an electrochemical cell
that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often
hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxy-
gen) into electricity through a pair of reactions.
According to the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel
Cell Association, hydrogen is the most common
element and makes up 75 percent of the mass of
the entire universe. And, with an atomic number of
one, it is the lightest element in the periodic table.
Hydrogen fuel cells could have a huge impact on
our planet. Fuel cells can have efficiency of over
80 percent, compared to internal combustion en- Some Middle Eastern countries that built their fortunes
gines that currently operate at around 25 percent on oil are seeking to develop hydrogen as fuel, given a shift
efficiency and power plants at about 35 percent. among some of their buyers toward less-polluting alterna-
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tives to crude. Three of Abu Dhabi’s biggest government-
(IPCC), if we wish to keep global warming to well below 2°C backed companies agreed to work together to turn the
above pre-industrial levels, which will already cause major oil-rich emirates into an exporter of blue and green hydro-
gen. A new report from research firm Frost & Sullivan, which
drawbacks for future generations, globally the world will need
predicts that global hydrogen production will rise from its
to cut CO2 emissions by 25% by 2030 and be net zero by 2070.
current 71 million tonnes to 160 million tonnes by 2030. Rev-
Whichever way one looks at this, the world will accept either enue generation within the market is expected to increase
a climate emergency, or it must decarbonize, and the richer from USD177 billion in 2020 to USD420 billion in 2030.
countries will have to bear the heaviest burden for it.
Indian government has said it intends to use hydrogen-
Fuel cell energy is good for use in backup generations or based fuel technology to help combat pollution in
emerging lighting, as it could be stored for years. Storing response to criticism by the Supreme Court of India
electricity for future use has been a problem for a long time. regarding the air pollution problems in the New Delhi
Now, electric cars & buses contain a battery that needs to be and whole northern India, the Solicitor General of India
charged which take hours and it discharge so quickly after informed the court that the government is making prog-
driving a short distance. With Fuel Cells, if the cells have ress, including exploring hydrogen-based technology
a constant hydrogen source, they can continue to create being developed in Japan. Despite enormous potential
electricity. It means that instead of filling your vehicle up with and abundant RES and coal reserves, India still in its
fuel at a petrol station, you could be filling your vehicle up with early stage in the adoption of hydrogen technology.
hydrogen and you may travel a longer distance on Fuel Cells. Indian govt should first focus on the use of Fuel Cells as
Fuel Cells are noise and pollution free; it is also available ev- alternative fuel in the government/ state owned trans-
erywhere no matter where you are located. Fuel Cells would ports in India as it will be a climate smart solution for
also be very cost effective and easily available. heavy transport in India.
ITOCHU, AIR LIQUIDE EYE HYDROGEN SUPPLY CHAIN IN JAPAN

Japanese trading house Itochu and its energy trading subsidiary Itochu Enex have agreed with French industrial gas supplier Air Liquide to develop a
T
hydrogen supply chain near major Japanese cities and tap potential growth in demand to supply fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
he three firms are planning to jointly discuss the Itochu, Itochu Enex and Air Liquide are targeting to
possibility of a project located in major Japanese jointly promote their hydrogen businesses in Japan and
cities to produce cost-competitive hydrogen overseas, aiming to launch a global hydrogen value chain
for consumption in nearby areas and supply and explore opportunities to import hydrogen into Japan.
local hydrogen fuelling stations. They are also Itochu is planning a study into a hydrogen production
targeting to expand hydrogen supplies to the and supply chain project in Japan’s Kyushu region jointly
manufacturing sector and for industrial mobil- with Japanese coke producer Nippon Coke & Engineering
ity use, such as trucks and buses. Japan has
and French shipping firm CMB. The company and Itochu
pledged to ban sales of new gasoline-only cars
Enex are also jointly working on a project to develop an
and only sell electric vehicles by 2035 under its
roadmap to achieve a decarbonised society by
ammonia fuel supply chain in Japan and in Singapore.
2050. The policy is expected to increase demand Air Liquide began developing hydrogen infrastructure in
for FCEVs, as well as fuel cell transport trucks Japan in 2015 and has since opened 13 hydrogen fuelling
for commercial use. Japan is projected to require stations. Japan had a total of 137 hydrogen fuelling sta-
3mn t/yr of hydrogen in 2030. tions across the country at the end of 2020.

featured
INDIA ON TRACK TO ACHIEVING CLIMATE

GOALS: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country is on track to achieving its climate goals
well before the target date as it switches over to energy-efficient mediums and uses
waste to generate energy.
Speaking after accepting the 2021 CERAWeek Global Energy & Environment
Leadership Award for his commitment to energy sustainability and the
environment, Modi said climate change and calamity are major challenges
facing the world. Both are interlinked, and one way to fight them is through
policies, laws, rules and orders, and the other is bringing behavioural change,
he said, listing measures taken by his government for sustainable energy
usage. While the target of mixing 20 per cent ethanol has been advanced to
2025, 5,000 compressed bio-gas plants will be set up to turn municipal and
agriculture waste into energy, he said. While switch over to energy-efficient
LED bulbs has helped save 38 million tonnes of carbon emission, modern
techniques of irrigation as well as reducing the use of pesticides with greater
T
awareness of improving soil health has greatly helped, he said.
he share of non-fossil sources in India’s installed

capacity of electricity has grown to 38 per cent and These, he said, are great indicators of positive
the nation adopted Bharat-VI emission norms in April behavioural changes. Accepting the award, he
last year to cut vehicular pollution. India, he said, is said, ‘It is with great humility that I accept the
working to increase the share of natural gas, which is CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment
environment friendly and less polluting, in the energy Leadership Award. I dedicate this award to the
basket from the current 6 per cent to 15 per cent people of our great Motherland, India. I dedi-
by 2030. Also, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is being cate this award to the glorious tradition of our
promoted as a fuel. He also mentioned of recently land that has shown the way when it comes
launched National Hydrogen Mission and equitable and decentralized to caring for the environment.’ He added that
model of solar energy generation. ‘India is well on track to achieve its Indians are leaders when it comes to caring for
Paris agreement targets well before the target date of 2030,’ he said. the environment for centuries and the nation’s
culture, nature and divinity are closely linked.
India has maintained that it is not a polluter and cause of climate
The Prime Minister said that Mahatma Gandhi
change and has voluntarily committed to reducing greenhouse gas
is one of the greatest environment champions to
emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35 per cent below 2005 levels by
have ever lived. ‘If humanity had followed the path
2030. On behavioural changes, Modi cited examples such as people
laid down by him, we would not face many of the
embracing LED bulbs, voluntarily giving up LPG subsidy, increased
problems we do today.’ He concluded ‘now is the
cooking gas coverage and affordable transportation initiatives. The
time to think logically and ecologically. After all
Prime Minister noted that over the last seven years, India’s forest
this is not about me or you. It is about our planet’s
cover has grown significantly, the population of lions, tigers, leop-
future. We owe this to our coming generations.’
ards and waterfowls has grown.
JIGAR SHAH’S PLAN TO MANAGE DOE’S $40B LOAN PROGRAM

The solar PPA pioneer and “infrastructure-as-a-service” investor has been selected to revive the program that boosted Tesla and utility-scale renew-
J
ables.
igar Shah has decades of experience bringing clean
energy technologies to commercial scale. As CEO and
co-founder of SunEdison, he helped pioneer the solar
power-purchase agreement (PPA) model now central to
the industry. As president and co-founder of Generate I’m not kidding when I say I’m
Capital, he’s applied similar expertise to commercializing more terrified than excited at the
new generations of clean energy and decarbonization responsibility of managing the
technologies. Now the clean-energy entrepreneur, well program, Shah said in his final
known to Greentech Media fans as a co-host of The episode of The Energy Gang this
Energy Gang podcast, is taking his acumen to the public sector. This week. But he also laid out some of
week, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm named Shah as the the principles he intends to follow
head of DOE’s Loan Programs Office and affirmed that the agency’s in reviving a program that helped
more than $40 billion in loan guarantee authority will play an impor- boost now-successful companies
tant role in the DOE’s push to commercialize technologies to help like Tesla before it was sidelined by
meet the Biden administration’s aggressive decarbonization goals. the Trump administration.

featured
FOURTH PARTNER ENERGY TIES UP WITH INDONE-

SIA’S INDIKA ENERGY TO EXPAND ITS INTERNA-
TIONAL FOOTPRINT
Fourth Partner Energy, India’s leading solar solutions firm announced a partnership with Indonesia’s energy major, Indika Energy. The joint venture
company Empat Mitra Indika Tenaga Surya (EMITS) is aimed at accelerating Indonesia’s renewable energy transition. Like Fourth Partner Energy’s India
portfolio, EMITS will offer integrated solar, storage and EV charging solutions to Indonesia’s businesses. Indika Energy will hold 51% and Fourth
Partner Energy 49% stake in EMITS.
Vivek Subramanian, Co-Founder and

Executive Director, Fourth Partner Energy
announced this development saying, “this
partnership with Indika Energy is an im-
portant part of our strategic international Alluding to the market opportunity in Indonesia, he added, “the
expansion into key markets across South Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has projected
East Asia. The commercial potential for re- the total investment to achieve the 23% renewable energy target
by 2025 as upwards of $36 Bn. Realizing this potential requires
newable energy in Indonesia is immense
intensified collaboration with various stakeholders – including the
– the government aims to double its private sector. EMITS expects to bring in at least $500 Mn into
current share of clean energy and achieve Indonesia in the next 5 years.” This partnership was facilitated by
nearly a quarter of its energy needs from TPG Capital’s Impact Investment Arm, The RISE Fund – which is
renewables by 2025. Indonesia, like India the majority shareholder in Fourth Partner Energy. With a portfolio
has a clear imperative towards aggres- of over $5 Bn, RISE is the largest social impact fund in the world.
sive decarbonization. EMITS is gearing up
to play a vital role in enabling this transition through a simple
value proposition to the consumer – cleaner electricity at lower
rates than grid tariffs, to help meet their sustainability goals.”
“Indika Energy is the ideal partner for us in Indonesia as Sir Richard Branson, member,
they have 2 decades of on-ground leadership as an inte- Founders Board at RISE, comment-
grated energy player with robust clientele and strong fi- ed on the significance of this joint
nancials – together with Indika’s local regulatory expertise venture, “RISE is constantly look-
and our execution prowess, we are confident that EMITS ing to invest in or bring together
will be Indonesia’s leading renewable energy solutions companies that drive measurable
platform,” he added. social and environmental impact,
alongside business performance
and strong returns. EMITS brings
together two stellar market leaders
across respective geographies to
Azis Armand, Vice President Director and combat climate change. We look
CEO of Indika Energy commented on the forward to working with this team
partnership saying, “this JV is a manifesta- and lending our global expertise
tion of Indika’s commitment to continue to help green Indonesia’s energy
diversification of our business portfolios, footprint.”
achieve our sustainability goals, improve Apart from operations in Indonesia, Fourth Partner Energy is look-
ESG performance as well as contribute ing to expand its International presence in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
to Indonesia’s national energy interests. Vietnam, Myanmar and Singapore. The company currently has
For Indika Energy, EMITS is expected an installed base of 550 MW solar capacity across the distributed
to contribute to our efforts to increase and open access portfolios – with solar parks under construction in
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat.
revenues from the non-coal segment by Fourth Partner Energy has also set up a 50:50 JV with leading com-
50% by 2025. We are excited to work with mercial EV fleet operator, Lithium Urban Technologies in India to
Fourth Partner Energy, whose end-to-end set up solar powered EV charging infrastructure across the country.
renewable energy expertise will ensure Charging Hubs across Pune and Gurugram have already been
that EMITS can replicate in Indonesia, the market dominance commissioned while hubs across Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata,
they have achieved in India.” Chennai and Jaipur are in the pipeline.

featured
INDIAN RENEWABLES’ CREDIT QUALITY INTACT: MOODY’S

Although Indian renewable energy companies failed to meet generation targets in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 that ended in March 2019 and March 2020
respectively, they will be able to withstand the impact of this underperformance thanks to large and diversified portfolios, according to a report by
Moody’s Investors Service.
About 15%-20% of Indian wind and solar

projects did not meet capacity utiliza-
tion targets in fiscal years 2019 and 2020
because of wind generation curtail-
ments and lower irradiance for solar
projects, which were responsible for
56% and 68% of the underperformance
respectively,” said Abhishek Tyagi, a
Moody’s Vice President and Senior
Analyst.
D
As a result, rated renewable energy companies’ EBITDA
declined 2%-5.6% in fiscal 2020. “Nevertheless, all rated espite missed targets, India reported a healthy
issuers have undertaken multiple projects, and thus their 20% growth in renewable energy generation over
credit quality benefits from portfolio diversification, which the past five years. Specifically, wind and solar
reduces the impact of individual projects,” added Tyagi. generation grew at a compound annual growth rate
Moody’s analyzed 176 projects totaling 11,462MW across of 20% in fiscal years 2015-20, increasing their
five rated companies – Greenko Energy Holdings (GEH, share of electricity generation in India thanks to declining devel-
Ba1 stable), ReNew Power Private Limited (RPPL, Ba2 sta- opment costs, strong policy support and investor interest in the
ble), Adani Renewable Energy (Rj) Limited (AGEL RG, Ba1 sector. Still, if India wants to achieve its target of 175-gigawatt
negative), Azure Power Energy Ltd (Azure RG1, Ba2 stable) renewable energy capacity by the end of fiscal 2022, it will need
and Azure Power Solar Energy Private Limited (Azure RG2, to increase renewable energy’s share of electricity generation to
Ba1 negative). around 16%-18% from 10% in December 2020, said Moody’s.
GREEN HYDROGEN AUCTIONS IN 3-4 MONTHS: R K SINGH

Taking forward the National Hydrogen Mission announced in the Union Budget this month, the Government of India is planning to make the usage of
Made-in-India green hydrogen mandatory in sectors such as steel, oil refineries, and fertilizers. The Centre is planning for green hydrogen auctions
G
within the next 3-4 months to further this agenda, said Power Minister R K Singh.
reen hydrogen is produced through
processes which are powered by
renewable energy, as opposed to that
produced through fossil fuel-driven
systems. Hydrogen, in turn, is used in
several high energy sectors, such as in
oil refineries, and fertiliser and steel fac-
tories. The government is now planning
to make it mandatory for such factories
to buy and use a minimum amount of green hydrogen from
India, instead of importing their requirements. Singh pointed
out that materials such as ammonia, for instance, are imported.
“Suppose we have a mandate, like the renewable purchase
obligations.
To begin with, 10 per cent of the ammonia you import should be
replaced by green ammonia made in India,” Singh said, adding
that a similar system could be put in place for hydrogen too.
“We have put it to the Ministry of Petroleum… Suppose we put a
mandate to replace 10 per cent of the hydrogen used for refining “You have to have an obligation to buy made in India
with green hydrogen made in India,” Singh explained. Accord- green hydrogen which may be slightly more expensive.
ing to Singh, his officials have already conducted discussions on It depends on the bid. In fact, it may turn out to be not
such a measure with the fertiliser and steel ministries too. As for more expensive at all,” he said. As an example, he noted
the cost, which is likely to turn out to be significantly higher for that solar electricity tariffs had cost as high as `15 per
green hydrogen, Singh said that a purchase obligation and sub- unit at one point of time, but now, have come down to
sequent demand would make the fuel more affordable in time. just Rs 1.99 per unit,” he added.

featured
EIB BACKS EUR 3.7 BILLION COVID-19 BUSINESS SUPPORT, RENEW-

ABLE ENERGY, INTERNET, HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABLE
URBAN INVESTMENT
€ 2.4 billion to strengthen access to finance and economic resilience to COVID-19
€ 688 million to support solar and wind energy
€ 381 million for transport, upgrading hospitals and schools, and sustainable urban investment
€ 1.5 billion new private sector financing COVID crisis response under Pan-European Guarantee Fund
Business investment, renewable energy and upgrading hospitals, schools, internet services and urban infrastructure will be accelerated by new
financing totalling EUR 3.7 billion approved by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
“Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic the European Invest-
ment Bank Group has approved EUR 40.3 billion for 251 projects to € 688 MILLION TO HARNESS RENEWABLE ENERGY
T
provide vaccines, improve public health and strengthen economic
resilience across Europe and around the world. A year after CO- ACROSS EUROPE
VID-19 led to unprecedented lockdowns, public health emergencies, he Board approved EIB financing for clean energy
business challenges, and loss of life, Europe continues to support that will help to accelerate the energy transition
its citizens and its companies while promoting global solidarity. and expand wind and solar clean power genera-
The EIB Group has enabled a rapid, targeted and effective response tion. This includes support for the construction of
11 windfarms across Poland expected to generate
across Europe and around the world as the EU Bank and as part of
380MW, three solar power plans in Greece to provide 230 MW
Team Europe. Approval of EUR 3.7 billion of new EIB financing will and 7 solar power schemes in Spain to supply 253 MW. Two
help private and public partners to achieve a green and sustainable other schemes will scale up investment in onshore wind and
recovery”, said Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment solar power projects across Europe and provide streamlined
Bank. financing for small scale energy efficiency schemes.
€ 2.4 BILLION FOR BUSINESS INVESTMENT AND ENSURING € 381 MILLION FOR TRANSPORT, HOSPITALS AND
T C
ECONOMIC RESILIENCE TO COVID-19 SCHOOLS, AND SUSTAINABLE URBAN INVESTMENT
he Board of Directors of the EIB, meeting via video confer- ommunities across Europe and beyond will benefit
ence approved EUR 2.4 billion of new private sector financ- from EIB backed investment to improve transport,
ing that will improve access to finance by companies and upgrade health and education, and unlock invest-
entrepreneurs. This includes targeted credit lines managed by ment in cities. People and businesses in more than
local banking partners that address challenges faced by busi- 1,000 remote rural villages across Georgia will
nesses negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. EUR 1.5 billion of benefit from a new fibre optic network providing broadband
the new private sector financing approved is backed by the Pan-European internet access backed by the EIB. Healthcare and medical
Guarantee Fund (EGF). The two new EGF transactions will support education in Banja Luka, the second largest city in Bosnia
business investment across Italy. More than EUR 7.9 billion of new EGF and Herzegovina, will be transformed by EIB support for the
financing, expected to mobilise EUR 61.6 billion of new private sector construction of a new medical complex, including a teaching
investment has been approved and the first contracts signed in December centre and university clinic. The EIB approved backing for in-
2020, immediately following confirmation of state aid clearance by the vestment to build seven school and day care centres in the city
European Commission. The EGF was created by the EIB Group within of Jyvaskyla in Finland and upgrading commuter trains in the
weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic being declared, to help businesses re- Swedish capital Stockholm. New investment to improve energy
cover from the pandemic, make new investments, and save jobs. Addition- efficiency, urban transport, education, sports and cultural facili-
al EIB backing for business investment includes new lending programmes ties across the Polish city of Wrocław will also benefit from
in France, Italy and Slovenia and direct financing for corporate research new EIB financing agreed.
and development in Denmark.

featured
POLAND SEES ENERGY

TRANSFORMATION COSTING
$120 BILLION BY 2045
Switching energy supplies from fossil fuels to cleaner sources of power will cost Poland an estimated 450 billion zlotys ($120 billion) by 2045, the
minister responsible for energy infrastructure said. Poland still generates most of its electricity from coal, but plans to reduce its share in power
production amid rising carbon emission costs.
He added that Poland would be closing its coal-
burning power plants over the next 30 years, replacing
them with gas-fuelled ones, offshore wind farms and
nuclear power plants. Naimski said the first nuclear
Transformation will cost us a lot. It is diffi- plant would be built in the north of Poland – in Lubiato-
cult to assess it exactly at the moment. We wo or Zarnowiec, and the second in Belchatow, central
have calculated that by 2045 the transfor- Poland, which is currently the site of Europe’s biggest
mation in the electricity system will cost lignite coal power plant. A third will potentially be built
around 450 billion zlotys, Piotr Naimski in Patnow. Poland plans to have its first nuclear reac-
told private radio RMF. tor operating in 2033. “We want to start construction in
2026,” Naimski said.
GERMANY URGED TO BE CARBON-NEUTRAL BY 2040

“What the next German government decides will have an impact on our greenhouse gas emissions over the next 20 to 30 years,” Xinhua news agency
G
quoted Christiane Averbeck, Executive Director of Climate Alliance Germany, as saying in a statement
ermany should seek to achieve climate neutrality
by 2040, 10 years earlier than officially planned,
according to a paper drafted by Climate Alliance
Germany, a social alliance for climate protection.
The paper urged the future German government
to “rapidly and ambitiously expand renewable energy”, particu-
larly wind power and photovoltaics, in order to decarbonise the
industrial, building and transport sectors. Renewable energies
would need to achieve a share of “at least 75 per cent of the
expected increase in gross electricity consumption” by 2030,
the paper noted. Germany’s official government target is 65
per cent. The country would also need to accelerate its coal
phase-out to 2030 and completely phase out fossil oil and gas
by the early 2040s, according to the paper. The next German
government should also present a “specific timetable” for the
abolition of environment and climate-damaging subsidies, the
Climate Alliance added.

featured
SOLAR PANELS IN THE SAHARA COULD

DAMAGE GLOBAL CLIMATE
Deserts are spacious, comparatively flat, wealthy in silicon – the uncooked materials for the semiconductors from which photo voltaic cells are made
R
— and by no means wanting daylight. The truth is, the ten largest solar plants world wide are all situated in deserts or dry areas.
esearchers imagine it may be attainable to remodel the So, an enormous photo voltaic farm might generate ample
world’s largest desert, the Sahara, into an enormous photo power to satisfy international demand and concurrently flip
voltaic farm, able to assembly four times the world’s one of the vital hostile environments on Earth right into a
present power demand. Blueprints have been drawn up liveable oasis. Sounds good, proper?
for initiatives in Tunisia and Morocco that might provide
electrical energy for hundreds of thousands of households in Europe. Not fairly. In a recent study, we used an advanced Earth system
Whereas the black surfaces of photo voltaic panels soak up many of model to intently look at how Saharan photo voltaic farms work
the daylight that reaches them, solely a fraction (around 15%) of that together with the local weather. Our mannequin takes under
incoming power will get transformed to electrical energy. The remain- consideration the advanced feedbacks between the interacting
der is returned to the setting as warmth. The panels are normally a lot spheres of the world’s local weather – the ambiance, the ocean and
darker than the bottom they cowl, so an unlimited expanse of photo the land and its ecosystems. It confirmed there could possibly be
voltaic cells will soak up quite a lot of extra power and emit it as unintended results in distant elements of the land and ocean that
warmth, affecting the local weather. If these results have been solely offset any regional advantages over the Sahara itself.
native, they may not matter in a sparsely populated and barren desert. Drought within the Amazon, cyclones in Vietnam. Overlaying
However the scale of the installations that might be wanted to make a 20% of the Sahara with photo voltaic farms raises native tempera-
dent on the earth’s fossil power demand can be huge, masking 1000’s tures within the desert by 1.5°C in response to our mannequin. At
of sq. kilometres. Warmth re-emitted from an space this dimension 50% protection, the temperature improve is 2.5°C. This warming
will likely be redistributed by the stream of air within the ambiance, is ultimately unfold across the globe by ambiance and ocean mo-
having regional and even international results on the local weather. tion, elevating the world’s common temperature by zero.16°C for
20% protection, and zero.39°C for 50% protection. The worldwide
temperature shift will not be uniform although – the polar areas
would heat greater than the tropics, growing sea ice loss within the
Arctic. This might additional speed up warming, as melting sea
ice exposes darkish water which absorbs rather more photo voltaic
power.
This huge new warmth supply within the Sahara reorganizes
international air and ocean circulation, affecting precipita-
tion patterns world wide. The slim band of heavy rainfall
within the tropics, which accounts for greater than 30% of
worldwide precipitation and helps the rainforests of the
Amazon and Congo Basin, shifts northward in our simula-
tions. For the Amazon area, this causes droughts as much
less moisture arrives from the ocean. Roughly the identi-
cal quantity of extra rainfall that falls over the Sahara as a
result of surface-darkening results of photo voltaic panels
is misplaced from the Amazon. The mannequin addition-
ally predicts extra frequent tropical cyclones hitting North
Clockwise from prime left: Bhadla photo voltaic park, India; Desert American and East Asian coasts.
Sublight photo voltaic farm, US; Hainanzhou photo voltaic park,
China and Ouarzazate photo voltaic park, Morocco. Photos through
Google Earth, writer offered A greener Sahara. A 2018 study used a
local weather mannequin to simulate the results of decrease albedo on
the land floor of deserts brought on by putting in huge photo voltaic
farms. Albedo is a measure of how nicely surfaces replicate daylight.
Sand, for instance, is rather more reflective than a photo voltaic panel
and so has the next albedo. The mannequin revealed that when the
scale of the photo voltaic farm reaches 20% of the entire space of the
Sahara, it triggers a suggestions loop. Warmth emitted by the darker
photo voltaic panels (in comparison with the extremely reflective
desert soil) creates a steep temperature distinction between the land
and the encircling oceans that finally lowers floor air strain and causes
moist air to rise and condense into raindrops. With extra monsoon
rainfall, crops develop and the desert displays much less of the solar’s
power, since vegetation absorbs gentle higher than sand and soil. With
extra crops current, extra water is evaporated, making a extra humid
setting that causes vegetation to unfold. This situation might sound
fanciful, however research counsel that a related suggestions loop
saved a lot of the Sahara inexperienced throughout the African Humid
Period, which solely ended 5,000 years in the past.

featured
International temperature, rainfall and floor wind adjustments in

simulations with 20% and 50% photo voltaic panel protection of
Sahara. Photos through Lu et al. (2021), Writer offered some necessary
processes are nonetheless lacking from our mannequin, similar to mud
blown from massive deserts. Saharan mud, carried on the wind, is a
crucial source of nutrients for the Amazon and the Atlantic Ocean. So
a greener Sahara might have a fair greater international impact than
our simulations steered. We’re solely starting to know the potential
penalties of building huge photo voltaic farms on the earth’s deserts.
Solutions like this will assist society transition from fossil power,
however Earth system research like ours underscore the significance
of contemplating the quite a few coupled responses of the ambiance,
oceans and land floor when analyzing their advantages and dangers.
This text by Zhengyao Lu, Researcher in Bodily Geography, Lund
University and Benjamin Smith, Director of Analysis, Hawkesbury In-
stitute for the Setting, Western Sydney University, is republished from
The Conversation underneath a Inventive Commons license. Learn the
original article.
East Jordan Students Looking to

Power School Through Solar Energy
Project
You may know East Jordan Middle and High school teacher Matt Hamilton
who started the famous East Jordan Shoe Club to empower students to do
anything they set their mind to. Screen Shot 2021 03 01 At 23728 PmNow, he
and his students are heading up a project aimed at another type of power.
The idea started this summer when Hamilton was thinking of

safe ways his 7th and 8th grade Shoe Club students could serve
the community. “Every year we do service projects where we go
out into the community and volunteer and support different or-
ganizations,” said Hamilton. “This year because of the pandemic,
we weren’t able to do any of that.” He saw a video of a teacher
who spearheaded a solar panel campaign at their school, and
he thought that was the perfect thing for his students to do. “It’s
something that teaches these kids life lessons, it teaches them
about renewable energy, and it’s also something that they’re I would go in and do some of the actual hands on work of
T
able to give back to the school and leave a lasting legacy,” he said. getting that research, and then I’d be sharing it with students
along the way, making sure they understood every step of the
he goal of the EJ Solar Spark project is to raise $70,000 process, said Newman. Mailey, who is also Hamilton’s daugh-
to install 71 30 kilowatt solar panels on the high school’s
ter, helped students create presentations and pitches to local
roof. “This is something that kids are going to be learning
about in every grade in our school district,” said Hamilton. organizations and businesses to raise funds. “It’s incredible
“We’re planning on having the Shoe Club kids go to the el- seeing the kids maybe nervous going into a presentation, not
ementary school and teach these kids about renewable energy.” There really sure of themselves, and coming out of the presentation
will also be a website teachers can go to so they can teach their class like nailing it and feeling a lot more confident in themselves,”
how the solar panels are working in real time. Hamilton brought in Ric said Mailey.
Evans, who is the Principal Manager at Paradigm Energy Services,
One of those students is seventh grader Rylan McVannel. This is
to provide insight into how to do this project. “I was helping able to
his first year in the Shoe Club. “When I first heard about it, it got
help kind of put them in touch with a lot of different installers, help
me on my feet,” said McVannel. “It sounded something big and
with building the request for proposal, and some recommendations on
fun and I like stuff like that.” McVannel is excited for the impact
where it would go,” said Evans. Twelfth grader Nathan Newman and
this project will leave on his school. “It’s not just a today thing, it’s
10th grader Mailey Hamilton became mentors for the students.
going to last for years to come,” he said. “When people like me
Newman did the research on

get older, we can look back on that and tell our kids like, ‘Hey I
helped with that!’.” The group has $15,000 more to raise by March
solar panels.
13. You can head to this link to donate. The Shoe Club hopes to
unveil their solar panels on Earth Day, April 22.

technology
ENERGY INDUSTRY: DISRUPTION WILL DRIVE COMPANIES TO IMPROVE

OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
2020 sent shock waves across Oil and Gas, Utilities and Mining organizations, creating dramatic shifts in supply and demand, revenue streams and
I
productivity. As these companies head into 2021 they continue to face the fallout from disparate — yet equally challenging — business disruptors.
n the Oil and Gas sector, companies are deal- Gaining operational efficiency and reducing costs are perennial
ing with the consequences of reduced demand, goals for just about every company, but are especially important
which has resulted in less headcount and more as the Energy industry adjusts to the “new normal.” Improved
merger and acquisition activity. Mining com- decision support, driven by integrating and managing data and
panies, meanwhile, are having the opposite content systems and leaning on analytics to make the most
experience – massive growth in demand and effective decisions for any given task, is key to achieving these
prices. Yet they are challenged to keep up with goals. But before companies can integrate and manage data,
this growth while maintaining a safe operating they must shrink the backlog of critical documentation yet to be
environment. And for Utilities, accommodating a digitized. The OpenText survey of Energy companies showed a
remote workforce and creating ever-richer digital experienc- slow transition to digital, with respondents citing no digitization
es for customers are musts. How will the Energy industry of inspection documents, work orders and piping and instru-
deal with these challenges in 2021 and beyond? By focus- ment diagrams; 35 percent reporting digitization for standard
ing on information management to make optimal use of operating procedures; 36 percent for operator logs and 48
data. Improved use of information is the common denomina- percent for worker assignments. Organizations will first look to
tor that will propel the Energy industry to work smarter, more bridge the digitization gap in 2021, and then try to better control
efficiently and more profitably. When leveraging information operational processes and information. For work orders, as an
to its full potential, Energy companies are better able to example, when asset information is digitized and integrated into
transform, scale and prosper. Here are five predictions for a single source, organizations can collect IoT data on an asset,
how improved information management could drive change perform analysis to optimize require work orders and schedule
in 2021. work orders to minimize downtime. When operations engineers
get a connected view of the data required to perform the task,
TACKLING UNCONNECTED DATA mistakes are reduced, more effective decisions are made and
The pandemic has highlighted continued challenges related safety is improved.
to poor data quality and ineffective information strate-
gies within organizations. Unconnected data repositories
OPTIMIZING SUPPLY CHAINS
often lead to operational inefficiencies, requiring time and The pandemic has created intense pressure across all Energy
manpower to maintain – two resources stretched thin dur- supply chains. Historically, supply chain management has not
ing pandemic operations. In a recent OpenText survey of been a high priority for these industries, but COVID-19 has
Energy companies, 40 percent reported that data is not impacted supply chains in unforeseen ways and companies are
connected across the enterprise as a whole and a further 35 starting to pay more attention. For 2021, creating more resilient
percent of organizations maintain data in silos and legacy supply chains and ensuring that production and maintenance
systems. Heading into 2021, organizations should strive for won’t be affected during turbulent times is becoming essential.
better control over work processes, information and risk, How will this be achieved? The rise of automation in Energy
looking to integrate data from multiple systems and sources. supply chains, which rely heavily on maintaining and servicing
Within Oil & Gas, in particular, the focus will be on bridging their physical assets, has the transformative potential to reduce
content silos and consolidating operational systems to get system downtime and predict failures before they happen.
the desired value from mergers, acquisitions and divesti- Digital transformation of supply chains can deliver the visibility
tures and produce economies of scale. required to improve economic performance, environmental com-
pliance and ethical practices.
EMPOWERING THE REMOTE WORKER
Pandemic disruptions led to a fast transition from on-site
IMPROVING DIGITAL EXPERIENCES
to remote working. In addition, staff reductions are taking For Utility companies, the need to deliver superior digital cus-
place in Oil and Gas companies due to reduced demand. tomer experiences has been magnified in 2020, thanks to new
As demand starts to increase through 2021 there will be technology, increased connectivity and the pandemic-driven
an increased reliance on third-party contractors who need shift to online interactions. Customers want to research and
temporary access to corporate content. While the shift to compare offerings on their own; when they do communicate
remote and contract workers has accelerated the need for with companies they expect the experience to be personal-
data sharing, many organizations have accessibility, visibility ized and seamless. As Utility companies respond to customers’
and security challenges when it comes to asset-related con- new preferences they must ensure they’re delivering the right
tent. To fully enable remote workflows, organizations should information through the right channel at the right time. Digital
make asset management more automated, digital and intelli- platforms that help provide exceptional digital experiences
gent. Being able to quickly access the most up-to-date asset throughout the customer journey will become indispensable. En-
information will improve worker confidence in data, leverage ergy companies that will persevere in 2021 will prioritize unlock-
maintenance data to boost visibility and reporting and facili- ing data in content, fully enabling remote and contract workers,
tate better collaboration and handoffs across teams. boosting productivity through better decision support, optimizing
supply chains and improving the customer experience.
DIALING UP DECISION SUPPORT TO IMPROVE Spokesperson
PRODUCTIVITY Martin Richards
Industry Marketing Director, OpenText

technology
Huawei unveils its latest FusionSolar

Smart PV offerings
Huawei has launched its latest cutting edge FusionSolar Smart PV offerings at a special industry event in Sydney to meet the growing demands for
A
smarter solutions in a booming Australian solar sector in which 4,000MW of new capacity was added in 2020 taking total capacity to nearly 20,200MW.
s the recognised global leader in the solar inverter
market Huawei has now launched its state-of-art resi-
dential and C&I inverter in Australia that will deliver
three main benefits to users: optimal electricity cost,
active safety and better experience. The SUN2000-
6KTL-L1 inverter is the newest addition to the existing L1 range
with the ‘true-hybrid’ battery and optimizer ready with AFCI func-
tion and providing ultimate flexibility and safety for both installers
and end-customers.
The SUN2000-29.9/36/40KTL-M3 has been designed to better Huawei FusionSolar Product Launch
meet the requirements of C&I customers in Australia and

includes four key features:
AFCI: Designed to improve safety for PV plants, AFCI can
reliably detect the occurrence of arcs in less than 0.5 sec-
onds. Huawei’s AFCI complies with TÜV SÜD’s IEC63027
standards and the maximum distance of AFCI is 200
meters, which is sufficient for large rooftops.
Optimizer compatibility: The SUN2000-20.0/36/50KTL-M3 Keera Single, CEO of Solargain, sharing his experience with Huawei
inverters are compatible with Huawei SUN2000-450W-P

optimizers. This will significantly increase the yields of the
system (up to 30%) especially if the roof has shading is-
sue. With full optimizer solution, panel level monitoring and
0V rapid shutdown can also be achieved, which is a man-
datory requirement for some C&I projects in Australia. The
automatic module mapping function saves 95% configura-
tion time and ensures smooth and easy commissioning. Haider Khan, Product and Solutions Hudson Liu, CEO of Huawei Australia, making
Manager of Huawei, unveiling the new the welcome speech
Built-in PID recovery: PID Effect is very common in humid products
areas of Australia (such as Queensland and Northern Terri-

tory). The M3 inverters are equipped with built-in PID re-
covery function, which can increase energy yield by 1.59%
in 6 months, based on a real Huawei case study.
Easy commissioning: Only WLAN-FE and 4G Smart
Timm McVaign, Digital Mar-
Dongle are required for commissioning the M3 inverters, keting Specialist of One Stop
and a smart dangle can support up to 10 devices. Besides Warehouse, said, “The primary
this, only one App – the FusionSolar App – is required for features of the SUN2000-6KTL-
all set up, commissioning and monitoring, further enhanc- L1 inverter of active safety,
ing the user experience. higher yields and being battery
ready are extremely helpful for
Both SUN2000-6KTL-L1 and SUN2000-29.9/36/40KTL-M3 in- our customer to communicate
verters come with 10-year full comprehensive warranty, providing
peace of mind for the customers.
and on-sell the product as a
desirable value add to their
customers.”
Mr. Hudson Liu, CEO of Huawei

Australia, said, “As a pioneer of
the Smart PV industry we are Mr. Keera Single, CEO of Solar-
continuously innovating and gain, said, “As part of the smart
are committed to providing the PV solution the Fusion Solar
optimal output and experience App enables simple monitoring
to our customers and actively making selling the benefits of
contributing to Australia’s storage visible and also helps
Renewable Energy Target.” customers to become energy
independent.”

energy storage
MALTA’S ENERGY STORAGE TECH TO STABILIZE

ELECTRICITY GRIDS RELIANT ON RENEWABLES
GETS $50 MILLION
As energy grids transition away from fossil fuels and toward the use of zero emission sources of power from primarily renewable energy sources,
they’re going to need an ability to store and then use the massive amounts of energy that’s only generated intermittently by the sun and wind. That’s
why technologies coming from companies like Malta, an energy storage technology developer that just raised $50 million in new financing, are attract-
M
ing attention and venture capital investment.
alta spun out from the special Malta is far from the only company developing long-
projects group at Google’s parent duration storage to solve the variable power production
company Alphabet and relies on problem caused by the build out of renewable energy. For-
some very old technologies com- tune had a whole dang article (which is actually something
bined in a novel way to provide I’d wanted to write) listing the multiple companies that are
long-duration energy storage that tackling the energy storage dilemma. They include compa-
can be discharged during times of nies like Energy Vault and Advanced Rail Energy Storage
peaking demand — like the condi- North America, which are both trying to use mechani-
tions that effected Texas’ power cal energy for long storage. In Energy Vault’s case that
grid last week. The company’s means using renewable power to lift huge one-ton blocks
latest round of funding was led by of cement that can then be dropped to unleash that stored
the Swiss natural gas, methanol energy as power. ARES North America uses a similar
and agricultural conglomerate concept, but instead of big honkin’ bricks, the company has
Proman, with participation from trains that it moves to store and discharge energy. Closer
previous investors Breakthrough to Malta’s Cambridge, Massachusetts base of operations,
Energy Ventures, the nearly ubiq- a company called Form Energy is working on… some-
uitous backer of renewable energy thing… that would compete with Malta’s energy storage
and sustainable startups, and system. That business was launched by some energy
Alfa Laval, which makes industrial storage superstars, who previously had stints at compa-
filters and heat exchangers. nies like Tesla, the failed big battery tech developer Aquion
and A123 Systems (a granddaddy of the lithium ion battery
Dustin Moskovitz, a co-founder of Facebook and the chief execu- revolution). Malta’s system is able to discharge 100 mega-
tive and co-founder of Asana, also participated in the round. watts over 10 hours, which is equivalent to one gigawatt
Heat exchangers are central to Malta’s approach, which is based hour of production at a price tag that’s about price competi-
on research from the Nobel Prize-winning Stanford University tive with lithium ion batteries, according to Swaminathan.
physics professor Robert Laughlin. In a 2017 paper, Laughlin The company is currently working on its first commercial
proposed a system that used a thermal heat-pump tapping scale plant, which it expects to commission in the 2024 or
super-cold cryogenic storage fluids and superheated molten 2025 time frame. Meanwhile its competitors are already
salt to store energy. Building on that initial design, engineers at supplying power from pretty massive storage projects.
Alphabet’s moonshot factory, X, began developing a modified Energy Vault has had a demonstration unit connected to
version of the designs Laughlin proposed. That modified design the Swiss national utility grid that can discharge roughly 35
is what’s now being developed by Malta, which spun out from megawatt hours onto the grid, according to the company.
X in 2018. Ramya Swaminathan, Malta’s chief executive officer, Companies like Proman like Malta because it can provide
who previously worked for the renewable energy project devel- a ready customer for its chemicals and natural gas.
oper Rye Development, said that the current Malta system can
store and dispatch energy with efficiency rates of around 60%.
That’s… not great, but Swaminathan said that the declining costs
of renewable power means that efficiency is less important as
prices continue to come down the cost curve. There is an exponential global need
for long-duration, low-cost energy
storage solutions, and we are excited to
work with the Malta team and our new
partners to progress Malta’s highly
scalable and technically robust solu-
tion, said David Cassidy, chief executive
In practice we are heading towards a of Proman, in a statement. “Alongside
system where electricity is priced close to our investment, Proman will bring
zero, Swaminathan said. Indeed, as some complementary design, engineer-
grids employ negative pricing models ing and construction expertise to the
when there’s a glut of electricity gener- Malta PHES technology as we begin
ated by wind and solar power, Malta’s work with Malta on a commercial scale
tech becomes more appealing she said. plant.”

energy storage
ENERGY STORAGE SUMMIT 2021: LONG-

DURATION OPPORTUNITIES WILL GROW BUT
BANKABILITY IS MAIN CHALLENGE
The energy storage market is poised for strong growth over the next decade and opportunities are likely to emerge for alternatives to lithium-ion that
S
offer longer durations of storage, but three key challenges remain for those technologies.
peaking at second day of the Energy For demand for these long-duration technologies to grow, they need
Storage Summit 2021, hosted by to solve supply and demand mismatches at a bulk level on energy
our publisher Solar Media, George networks. “If you’re solving the supply and demand mismatch at a
Hilton, senior energy storage analyst country scale, you really are looking at significant quantities of stored
at IHS Markit, said that scaling energy. And following on from that the costs clearly need to be very
up, achieving cost reductions and low. If this technology is to be deployed at scale then it needs to be
proving bankability are the biggest deployed at scale, and low cost.” Then, he said, “most importantly, in-
hurdles facing technologies such as vestors will need to trust that the technology that they’re investing in
flow batteries and mechanical stor- is effective and robust in order for it to be bankable. And this is a very
age. With the market research and tough hurdle for alternative technologies, which are often unproven
analysis group predicting that more and they haven’t necessarily benefited from the scale that lithium-
than 10GW of energy storage will
ion has in the automotive sector”.
be deployed during 2021 worldwide,
more than doubling last years instal- The opportunity for alternative technologies is “tied to the value
lations, Hilton said that it is obvious available in long-duration applications, and that’s because that’s
lithium-ion is clearly the dominant where lithium-ion is least competitive,” Hilton said. For example,
technology in the market. However, to add more duration of storage and discharge to a lithium battery
stationary energy storage represents system, you need to add more cells, whereas with flow batteries, you
a relatively small proportion of de- increase the size of the electrolyte tanks. The relationship between
mand for batteries. adding more lithium cells and increased cost is linear – for flow batter-
ies, adding that extra capacity is therefore a “cheaper way of increas-
ing capacity than building a whole new flow battery next door”. Hilton
said IHS Markit believes that for 8-hour duration applications flow
The scale of the lithium-ion industry is huge com- batteries can become broadly competitive with lithium-ion by 2030.
pared to the scale of the energy storage industry, There had been “interesting and promising signs” for long-duration
Hilton said, adding that this presents both opportuni- even in 2020 and Hilton brought up three relatively small but signifi-
ties and challenges for stationary energy storage. cant actions taken in different countries: a 500MW request for offers
The scale and demand for lithium for transport (RFO) by a group of Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) electricity
applications has driven forward dramatic price re- suppliers in California for energy storage with a minimum eight-hour
ductions and helped develop a global supply chain. discharge duration, Israel’s recent solar-plus-storage tender which
Meanwhile, from a technological perspective, “all awarded 3GWh of government energy contracts to systems with four-
developments in lithium-ion batteries will be dictated hour duration and a South African government energy tender which
by the automotive sector,” with significant investment is technology agnostic but requires 2GW of dispatchable genera-
from that sector driving innovation in cell chemistry tion capacity available between 5am and 9:30pm each day. Going
and manufacturing. This has benefits and draw- forwards, Europe’s wholesale electricity market could offer a route
backs, with batteries suited for transport not neces- for bulk storage, but it will require some fairly big changes in market
sarily meeting the needs of the stationary storage dynamics, from “sporadic peaks and troughs” in wholesale prices,
sector. Additionally, new technologies will need to with infrequent one to two hour peaks to much longer and more
meet a high precedent of bankability and scale set regular peaks of several hours. Long-duration batteries will cycle
by the dominance of lithium-ion. On the other hand, much less often, by definition, than high power lithium batteries so the
lithium-ion batteries are well-suited for higher power revenue opportunities need to be much deeper per cycle too. These
applications, while alternative and potentially disrup- factors will align, offering an opportunity for long-duration storage in
tive technologies such as flow batteries, compressed the gigawatt-scale, he said, but what is required is a continued high
air and thermal storage options are more like growth in renewable energy penetration and corresponding reduction
“conventional energy assets”, and the majority offer in the size of the thermal generation fleet: “We do see these changes
longer-duration energy storage. happening in the coming years,” he said. Over the next few years to
2025 however, the majority of opportunities are going to remain in the
Promising signs already but two to four-hour duration segment of the market and the opportunity
for long-duration storage is most likely to come to fruition post-2030,
real opportunities will take according to the analyst. The Energy Storage Summit 2021, hosted
some time to develop

by our publisher Solar Media, will continue on 2-3 March while all
previous sessions are available to watch on-demand.

energy storage
SALT-BASED ENERGY STORAGE TRIAL TAPS “FIRST-

CLASS” AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGY
Swedish plans to develop and trial a salt-based energy storage system will enlist the electric kiln technology of award-winning Australian company
A
Calix, in an agreement with Sweden-based SaltX Technology.
SX-listed Calix said that it had entered
an agreement with SaltX to build a pilot- SaltX is behind a patented nanocoated salt that claims to
scale 200kW electric powered direct have solved a couple of the key barriers to using salt as an
separation reactor (eDS) in Sweden to energy storage medium, including its highly corrosive prop-
be used as a charger in its energy stor- erties and its tendency to degrade and lose efficiency after
age system. The joint venture, which a limited number of cycles. “We use a technology where,
would also incorporate Japanese giant it’s similar to an engine and a fuel tank, so the salt is the
Sumitomo, will install the reactor at fuel and it’s really easy to scale this tank up and then we
SaltX’s current pilot in Stockholm, with have a reactor or engine where we can take out the energy
a “complete optimised storage solu- or the power,” SaltX’s marketing director Eric Jacobson
tion” expected to be ready for testing said in 2019. This is where Calix’s electric reactor technol-
and validation within the calendar year. ogy comes in – a version of which the company success-
And if the tests prove successful, a fully built and commissioned in 2019 at its Bacchus Marsh
megawatt-scale commercial plant could facility in Victoria. The Victorian project, dubbed BATMn – a
follow. portmanteau of batteries and manganese, pronounced Bat-
man – was Calix’s first demonstration of an all-electric reac-
tor, and showed that its proprietary technology could be
run entirely by electricity – a win in the bid to decarbonise
industrial heating processes.
We are thrilled to have a leading Calix’s immediate plans following the success of the
partner like Calix for optimising SaltX BATMn reactor had focused on the development of low-
EnerStore system further, said Carl- cost, safe, and easier to recycle electrode materials for lith-
Johan Linér, the CEO of SaltX Technol- ium-ion battery technology. But the company also flagged
ogy in a company statement. “Calix is a longer-term R&D focus on the “development of high
a provider of first-class solutions and performance nano-active materials for next-generation,
I’m convinced that this is the start of solid-state and post lithium electro-chemical energy storage
a promising long-term collaboration. technologies.” Which brings us back to the SaltX system.
Furthermore, I’m also proud that we Calix – having returned promising results from lab testing
now have secured a scalable technol- of the nanocoated salt – says it has executed a purchase
ogy for the charging equipment.’’ agreement with SaltX for the design and supply of a 200kW
eDS pilot reactor, as part of the Swedish demonstration
SaltX is behind a patented nanocoated salt that claims to project. SaltX will be responsible for the construction and
have solved a couple of the key barriers to using salt as an operation of the pilot reactor, while Calix will provide a
energy storage medium, including its highly corrosive proper- non-exclusive, non-transferable limited license to SaltX to
ties and its tendency to degrade and lose efficiency after a use the eDS reactor for the pilot plant. The deal also gives
limited number of cycles. Swedish plans to develop and trial Calix the right to undertake its own research in the eDS unit
a salt-based energy storage system will enlist the electric kiln and – as mentioned above – to work with SaltX on further
technology of award-winning Australian company Calix, in an collaboration on a larger 1MW capacity unit, subject to the
agreement with Sweden-based SaltX Technology. ASX-listed results achieved at the pilot plant.
Calix said that it had entered an agreement with SaltX to build
“The use of Calix’s technology in baseload energy
a pilot-scale 200kW electric powered direct separation reactor
storage systems was foreshadowed as we developed
(eDS) in Sweden to be used as a charger in its energy storage
our SOCRATCES project in Europe – which is based
system. The joint venture, which would also incorporate Japa-
upon solar-powered calcium looping and is progress-
nese giant Sumitomo, will install the reactor at SaltX’s current
ing well,” said Calix managing director and CEO Phil
pilot in Stockholm, with a “complete optimised storage solution”
Hodgson in a statement. “We are very pleased to be
expected to be ready for testing and validation within the cal-
working with SaltX on its system now also. This sys-
endar year. And if the tests prove successful, a megawatt-scale
tem has great potential for load balancing applications
commercial plant could follow.
as the grid de-carbonises,” Hodgson said. “Calix is a
“We are thrilled to have a leading partner like Calix for pioneer in developing sustainable solutions for many
optimising SaltX EnerStore system further,” said Carl- industries and therefore I believe this co-operation will
Johan Linér, the CEO of SaltX Technology in a company have many benefits in SaltX mission of developing
statement. “Calix is a provider of first-class solutions and energy storage solutions that will have a real change
I’m convinced that this is the start of a promising long- for the renewable energy sector,” added SaltX CEO,
term collaboration. Furthermore, I’m also proud that we Carl-Johan Linér.
now have secured a scalable technology for the charging
equipment.’’

energy storage
NORTHVOLT INVESTS $200M IN POLISH ENERGY STORAGE FACTORY

Swedish battery supplier Northvolt has announced the $200m construction of Europe’s largest energy storage systems factory in Poland. Located in
T
Gdańsk, builders will construct the 50,000m² factory in two phases.
he first phase will begin this year, with
production expected to start next year. This
phase will have an annual output of 5GWh
of modules and packs while the second
construction phase will see the factory
expanded to a total capacity of 12GWh. The
facility will also feature an engineering re-
search and development centre. This would
only use energy generated from renewable
sources, including on-site generation. Once
operational, the facility will create 500 new
jobs in the Gdańsk region. A Northvolt state-
ment said the company intends to become a
global leader in the development and deliv-
ery of premium, sustainable battery solutions
for the European market. The new facility will
help the company increase its manufactur- Northvolt co-founder and CEO Peter Carlsson said:
ing capacity. As part of its battery solutions “Securing battery cell manufacturing capacity in Europe
delivery, the company will offer technical is key for its industrial future, but what is equally critical
solutions to help end industrial dependence is the industrial capacity for integrating cells into real-
on fossil fuels. world solutions.
GLOBAL ENERGY STORAGE INSTALLA-

TIONS TO EXCEED 10GW IN 2021
According to a new report released by research firm IHS Markit, the global market for energy storage will more than double in 2021 from the 2020
level. The study forecasts the energy storage market will reach a record year in 2021 with annual installations exceeding 10GW for the first time, up
from 4.5GW in 2020.
THE US CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE MARKET,

BUT APAC DEMAND ACCELERATES.
The US will account for 50% of the global market in 2021 follow-
ing a threefold increase from the prior year as energy storage
begins to provide power during times of peak demand at a
significantly wider scale. The US is expected to dominate the
market through 2023. However, from 2025 aggressive decar-
bonisation plans in mainland China will lead to rapid growth in
the region, driving Asia Pacific to account for 44% of annual
installations by 2030. In Europe, a 70% increase in annual
installations will be realised in 2021, as the technology will begin
to be used more widely to keep the grid frequency stable and
reduce the intermittency of renewable energy.
George Hilton, senior analyst Clean Technology at IHS
Markit, said: “The energy storage industry will begin signifi-
SOLAR-PLUS-STORAGE EMERGES AS GROWTH DRIVER. cant multiyear growth in 2021, continuing until 2030, as the
Solar-plus-storage installations are capitalising on recent policy technology begins to form a core component of power grids
changes in the US such as the extension of the solar Invest- in developed markets and new opportunities in developing
ment Tax Credit (ITC), meaning that energy storage projects markets continue to emerge.
co-located with solar will continue to benefit from a reduced tax “The global market for energy storage is maturing
burden through to 2025. In the past six months, 1.3GW of ten- rapidly. The number of countries where annual instal-
ders have been announced or awarded for storage which will be lations exceed 100MW will increase from nine in 2020
co-located with solar PV. Combined with the impact of the US to 17 in 2022. The three biggest contributors to this
ITC, IHS Markit predicts that 3.8GW of storage co-located with growth will be the United States, mainland China and
solar will be completed in 2021 compared with 0.9GW in 2020 – Australia, which are together forecast to supply 4.5GW
an increase of 320%. of capacity in 2021.”

energy storage
GREECE’S IPTO, SUNLIGHT TO JOIN HANDS IN 20-MW ENERGY

STORAGE PILOT – REPORT
Greek power grid operator IPTO and domestic battery maker Sunlight plan to join hands in the installation of a 20 MW/20 MWh pilot energy storage
T
system in the city of Thiva, central Greece, Energypress reports.
he duo is expected to sign a Memorandum It will deploy batteries made by Sunlight, which is part of
of Understanding (MoU) on the project within Greece’s Olympia Group. Apart from investment in energy
the next few days. Its implementation was storage projects on Greek islands and in the central part of
included in IPTO’s EUR-4.1-billion (USD the country, IPTO’s plan envisages spending on new interna-
4.96bn) plan for transmission system invest- tional electrical interconnections and upgrades of the national
ments between 2022 and 2031 that was power transmission grid in line with the recent expansion of
presented in January. The battery facility will renewables. The company’s plans for energy storage capac-
be located at a substation in Thiva, around ity also include the construction of an up to 10-MW pilot bat-
100km (62 miles) northwest of Athens. tery facility on the island of Naxos.
FIVE KEY FACTORS IMPACTING UTILITY BUSINESS MODELS FOR

ENERGY STORAGE
A new report released by the US Energy Storage Association (ESA), in partnership with the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), highlights key factors
that influence utility business models for energy storage.
The five key factors impacting utility busi- Other key study findings include:
ness models include:
Multiple battery storage technologies offer viable solutions as grid-connected assets,
Monetising multiple value streams. with lithium-ion batteries already demonstrating cost-effectiveness under certain busi-
Incorporating storage as part of a microgrid. ness models.
Addressing renewable intermittency with Regulatory challenges remain in some states and jurisdictions regarding utility owner-
hybrid configurations. ship of energy storage, limiting the ability of those utilities to maximise the value of
storage for the grid and customers.
Storage as a non-wires alternative (NWA).
Energy storage is a preferred non-wires alternative (NWA) solution for many utilities
Locational constraints and demand cost due to the flexible services it can offer and its cost-effectiveness as compared to tradi-
reduction. tional capital expenditures.
Grid-connected energy storage projects can optimise value streams between project
partners through operational control agreements that codify operational parameters and
prioritise dispatch rights between parties.
Robert Tucker, Director, Industry Strategy Creative programme designs can enable utilities to leverage grid-connected energy stor-
at SEPA, said: ”Energy storage, more so age to provide grid value, while also providing direct customer benefits.
than other asset types, requires utilities to Some four innovative energy storage use cases are explored in the report and
think creatively in order to realise potential they include projects deployed by:
value streams. “This report highlights the
business models we see utilities using to SMUD Energy StorageShares. Maryland IOU Energy Storage Pilots.
extract these value streams to the benefit Con Edison and GI Energy. Oakland Clean Energy Initiative (OECI) and PG&E-
of the grid and customers.” Vistra Energy.

renewable energy
The Future of Electricity Generation

is in Green Energy
Electricity generation from renewable sources on a global scale reached 2020 thousand 340 TWh in 2 with an increase of 805 TWh
C
compared to the previous year, surpassing all resources.
hina leads in renewable energy generation with
732,3 TWh, while the US is second with 489,8
THE HEAD OF WIND ENERGY IN TURKEY DREW
TWh, Germany is third with 224,1 TWh, India is Earth moves towards a lower carbon, Turkey should increase environ-
fourth with 134,9 TWh and Japan is fifth with 121,2 mental awareness in the need technological developments in electricity
TWh. According to the information given by Çağada production as well as the deepening of government policy, particularly
Kırım, founder of electricity tariffs comparison and supplier hydropower, has increased the share of wind and solar energy. Turkey,
switching site encazip.com; If Turkey has an important potential a total of 2020 TWh of electricity production in 45,3 was provided
for green energy last year to a total of 45,3 TWh of electricity from renewable energy sources. According to obtained in 2020 from a
production from renewable energy sources to meet. Thus, the year earlier to 20 percent growth in electricity production from renew-
growth rate of renewable energy sources in electricity production able energy sources in Turkey with 21,7 TWh of electricity production
stood at 20 percent in Turkey. The rapid disappearance of natural took place first in wind energy. Wind energy was followed by geother-
resources continues to develop technologies for energy resources. mal and biomass with 12,7 TWh, while solar power ranked third with a
Green energy, which can be supplied without the need for fossil total production of 10,9 TWh.
fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, renewed in a continuous
process and available in nature ready to be used; While increasing GREEN ENERGY TOOK ITS PLACE IN THE ‘NATIONAL
the usage rate all over the world, it is becoming a promising type
of energy generation in our country. According to the information
ELECTRICITY TARIFF’
Earth moves towards a lower carbon, Turkey should increase environ-
compiled by Çağada Kırım, founder of electricity tariffs com- mental awareness in the need technological developments in electricity
parison and supplier switching site encazip.com; hydraulic, wind, production as well as the deepening of government policy, particularly
solar, geothermal, biomass, wave, tidal, such as energy resources hydropower, has increased the share of wind and solar energy. Turkey,
representing green energy in terms of significant potential with a total of 2020 TWh of electricity production in 45,3 was provided
Turkey, in the world with geothermal potential 7. In Europe from renewable energy sources. According to obtained in 2020 from a
Ranks # 1 and the share of renewable energy in electricity pro- year earlier to 20 percent growth in electricity production from renew-
duction Growing steadily. able energy sources in Turkey with 21,7 TWh of electricity production
ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM SOLAR ENERGY took place first in wind energy. Wind energy was followed by geother-
mal and biomass with 12,7 TWh, while solar power ranked third with a
IS A GLOBAL LEADER total production of 10,9 TWh.
Electricity generation from renewable sources worldwide, reach- Although it has a cost in the short term, the long-term benefit
ing a total of 2020 thousand 340 TWh in 2 with an increase of is indisputable. On the other hand, the expectation of sustain-
805 TWh compared to the previous year; It outperformed fossil ability, which is increasingly important especially in our export
resources such as coal, oil and carbon. While the biggest growth
markets, will be reflected in our industrialists in a short time. In
in renewable energy production was seen in solar energy, 724,1
TWh of electricity was produced from solar energy. Wind energy, particular, European buyers, the products produced in Turkey can
which ranked second in growth with an increase of 12,6 percent, bring the condition to be produced with green energy. All of these
contributed 1429,6 TWh to electricity generation last year. The will increase the interest in the Green Tariff, and the sensitivity of
production obtained from other energy sources such as geother- the society on this issue will both reduce the damage to the envi-
mal and biomass was determined as 651,8 TWh. ronment and reduce electricity prices in the medium term ”.

research & analysis
Power Sector Update

Electricity consumption and generation held on to the improvements of recent months in February’21 and was only marginally
lower than the pre-lockdown period of February’20. The firming up of prices in the shortterm electricity market during the month
is also indicative of the strengthening of electricity demand. The addition to domestic power generation capacity in the first
eleven months of FY21 at 9.7 GW has been the lowest annualised addition in twelve years and is around half of that a year ago.
New capacity addition of conventional as well as renewable energy has slowed down, with the decline in the former being higher.
The addition to capacity in the current financial year has been led by solar power. DISCOMS dues to generators have been mount-
ing. As of February’21, the outstanding dues amounted to Rs.1.27 lakh crores, a 25% increase from April’20.
ELECTRICITY GENERATION
India’s power generation in February’21 was lower than the preced- The output from conventional energy sources during April-
ing two months and nearly stable from the year-ago period (based February of FY21 was 3% lower than that in the corresponding
on provisional data). Electricity generation during February at 112 months of FY20, while that from renewable energy sources has seen
billion units (BU) was 7% lower than the previous month and 0.2% a year-on-year increase of 6%, aided by the higher output during
less than February’20. It was also lower than the output during May-August’20. Further, the ‘must-run’ status of renewable power
July-October’20 (average generation of 120 BU) . Generation from plants that mandates uninterrupted power procurement by utilities
renewable energy sources moderated in February’21 (by 3%), while supported the higher generation from these power sources despite
that from conventional sources increased, albeit marginally (by the sharp fall in power consumption during the lockdown (by over
0.1%), on a year-on-year basis. In the first eleven months of FY21, 20% year-onyear basis). Lower power generation in FY21 has been
domestic electricity generation declined to a three-year low and the consequence of a sharp fall in electricity demand from the indus-
was 2.4% less than that in the corresponding period of FY20. This trial and commercial sectors consequent to the nationwide lockdown
fall was mainly on account of the lower output from conventional during the end of March-May’20 as well as the disruptions in the
sources (thermal, hydro, and nuclear), which accounts for around supply of inputs, raw materials, and labour shortages consequent to
90% of the total generation. the pandemic led restrictions across regions.
Conventional energy sources have recorded consecutive six The higher generation saw the capacity utilization rate or plant load
months of growth on a year-on-year basis since September’20. factor of coal power plants rise to 63%, the highest level in twenty-one
There has however been a decline on a sequential basis in months. Higher coal power output helped offset the lower generation of
February’21. Coal-based power generation (76% of total power hydro power (6% of total output) and gas power (3% share) in Febru-
output and 84% of conventional energy output) in February’21 ary’21. Both hydro-power and gas generation in February’21 was 14%
registered a 3% year-on-year improvement. lower than a year earlier.

research & analysis
Generation from renewable energy sources declined on a monthly (by 5%) and The cumulative solar power generation in the
annual (by 3%) basis in February’21. This decline is primarily on account of lower eleven months to February’21 was 20% more than
wind power generation during the month. Wind power output fell by around 25% that in the same period last year. This increase
on a sequential and annual basis in February. Solar power generation on the other can be credited to the higher generation during
hand rose by 7% on a month-on-month basis and by 2% on a year-on-year basis the summer months (AprMay) which was nearly
in February’21. During April-February of FY21, wind power generation, which 30% higher than a year ago. Solar power has seen
accounts for the larger share in renewable energy (nearly 50%), was 8% lower than fluctuations in monthly power generation which
a year ago and this decline can be attributed to low wind speeds, especially in the can be linked to seasonal factors as well as the
peak monsoon season. disruptions in the input (imported) supply chains.
POWER CONSUMPTION
Electricity consumption in the country declined on a sequential as The fall in electricity consumption was the highest in the southern
well as an annual basis in February’21, following an increase in region (23% m-o-m). The western and northern region witnessed
the previous two months. Electricity consumption in February’21 a month-on-month decline of 8% and 9% respectively. Electricity
at 104.7 BU was 6% lower than that in January’21 and 0.1% less consumption in the country fell by 3% year-on-year during April-
than the pre-lockdown February’20. The fall in consumption was February of FY21. This is mainly due to lower demand from the
despite the gradual and progressive revival in domestic economic industrial and commercial sector consequent to the lockdown and the
activity and can be put down to the fewer number of days during gradual increase in demand with the unlocking of the economy since
the month. The decline in power consumption in February was June’20. Consumption has seen an increase (year-on-year) since
broad-based across regions. September’21, following six months of decline.
PRICE RISE IN THE SHORT-TERM ELECTRICITY MARKET

The short-term transactions of electricity in the Day Ahead Market (DAM) on There has been a sustained increase in prices since
the IEX power exchange declined on a sequential basis in February’21 and were December’20 and prices have risen by 20% in the
accompanied by a firming up of prices. The trade volumes in DAM at 5124 MU three months to February’21, reflective of the growing
were 8% lower than the previous month. It was however 19% higher than a year electricity demand. DISCOMS and industrial consum-
ago. In the first eleven months of FY21, the volume of electricity traded in the ers have been increasingly procuring power from the
DAM was 31% higher on a year-on -year basis. The average price of electricity power exchanges given the cost advantage of relatively
in the DAM in February’21 rose to Rs. 3.39/unit from Rs.3.18/unit in January’21 lower prices when compared with their long-term power
and Rs.2.91/unit in February’20. This translates into a 7% month-on-month purchase agreements as well as the ease and efficiency
increase and a 16% year-on-year rise. of these transactions.

research & analysis
LOWER ADDITION TO POWER GENERATION CAPACITY IN 2020-21

Capacity addition to conventional as well as renewable power generation New power generation capacity addition in 2020-21
slowed in FY21. During April–February of FY21, 9.7 GW of new generation has been led by renewable energy. 6.2 GW of renewable
capacity was installed. This has been the lowest annualised addition in twelve energy generation capacity has been added during April-
years and nearly half of that in the same period of FY20 (April- February). February of FY21 versus 3.5 GW of conventional energy.
The decline in annual capacity addition was higher in the case of conventional Renewable energy capacity addition has been led by
energy sources (54% decline y-o-y) than that on renewable energy (47% lower solar power, which accounted for 48% or 4.7 GW of new
y-o-y). The lower capacity addition can be attributed to the lockdown led to capacity. Solar power generation capacity currently stands
supply side disruptions (which slowed movement of inputs and has led to an at 39 GW. Coal-based power, which is the dominant
increase in their prices), labour shortages as well as the constrained finances source of electricity in the country and which accounts
and liquidity pressures faced by the developers. Also, the restriction on the for 53% of the total generation capacity, added 3.1 GW to
imports of inputs viz. for solar power has aggravated the constraints faced generation capacity in the eleven months to February’21,
by the developers. Project timelines have been extended as a result, further taking its total installed capacity to 201 GW. Of the total
aggravating the financial stress of developers. A five-month extension in the domestic electricity generation capacity of 379 GW, the
scheduled commissioning date due to the Covid-19 pandemic was provided installed capacity of conventional energy is 286 GW (75%
by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for renewable energy projects share in total) and that of renewable energy is 93 GW
(from 25 March’20 to 24 August’20). (25% share).
MOUNTING UP OF DISCOMS DUES

The outstanding dues owed by DISCOMs to power generators as of the end of Janu- Up until 19 February’21, only 7 states
ary’21 amounted to Rs.1.27 lakh crores, a 25% increase from April 2020. The absence (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Karnataka,
of cost-reflective tariffs, high operational expenses, and AT&C losses along with Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand)
huge historical outstanding dues has been pressuring the finances of state distribu- had undertaken partial power sector reforms.
tion utilities over time. Added to this, the fall in power demand and disruptions in the The outstanding dues were the highest for the
billing and collections consequent to the lockdown in the current financial year has DISCOMS of Rajasthan (Rs.41,914 crs). The
further aggravated their financial stress and thereby the overall financial weakness in other states with notable outstanding dues are
the power sector. The government support to DISCOMS under the special economic Tamil Nadu (Rs.19,324 crs) and Uttar Pradesh
package (Atmanirbhar) announced in May’20 has not helped in lowering their dues. (Rs.15,319 crs). These three states accounted
For liquidating the dues of DISCOMS, the government had announced liquidity for 60% of the total outstanding dues. The
support to them to the tune of Rs. 1.20 lakh crores by way of special long-term loans other states with sizeable dues (over Rs.3,500
through PFC and REC. However, only 37% of the proposed liquidity support has been crs) include Telangana, Karnataka, Jharkhand,
disbursed to DISCOMS as of the end of January’21. The lower disbursement is mainly Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Haryana.
due to these loans being linked to DISCOMs undertaking reform measures such as Table 2 details the outstanding DISCOMS
installing pre-paid smart meters, stipulating trajectory for reducing AT&C losses, ACS- dues of the states who make up for 90% of the
ARR gaps, recovery of subsidy, and government dues. total dues.

24th International Engineering and Technology Fair
25 Feb - 24 Mar 2021

CII HIVE Virtual Platform
Key Focus Sectors Why Participate

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Platform connecting businesses
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for a sustainable future
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SHOWCASE
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EQ FEBRUARY- 2021 www.EQMagPro.com

EDITOR & CEO :

TRENDS & ANALYSIS

PUBLISHING COMPANY DIRECTORS:

HEAD SALES & MARKETING :

BUSINESS & FINANCE

4 EQ FEBRUARY- 2021 www.EQMagPro.com

ELECTRIC VEHICLE ELECTRIC VEHICLE

BUSINESS & FINANCE

www.EQMagPro.com EQ FEBRUARY- 2021 5

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OPINION COAL INDIA STRIVING

NATIONAL HYDROGEN ENERGY MISSION TO SOON GO FOR CABINET

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INDIA LACKS SILICA TO

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AMP ENERGY INDIA

We believe that projects like

CSL CMD INAUGURATES 450 KWP SOLAR POWER PLANT: TOTAL

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HARNESSING NAGALAND’S HYDRO & SOLAR POTENTIAL

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INDIA’S COAL POWER USE MAY HAVE ALREADY

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POWER INTERRUPTIONS IN ANDHRA PRADESH COME DOWN BY 35

PUNJAB’S SETS UP IST SOLAR-BASED WATER SUPPLY PROJECT AT

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RENEW POWER EYES US LISTING

HARYANA ISSUES SOPS FOR FARMERS REGARDING SUBSIDIES FOR

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ARBL TO SET UP RS 220 CRORE SOLAR POWER PLANT IN

INDIA TO SEE $500-BILLION INVESTMENT

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PUNE FAMILY PAYS RS. 70/MONTH IN

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INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE SPECIAL ASSEMBLY ELECTS DR

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INDIA TO BE BIGGEST DRIVER OF GLOBAL ENERGY DEMAND

IN A FIRST FOR COUNTRY’S CIVIC BODIES, BMC

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RAJASTHAN SEC RECOMMENDS 1.18 LAKH CRORE INVESTMENT IN

DELHI TRANSPORT DEPT ISSUES NOTICE TO TATA MOTORS OVER

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PLI SCHEME FOR SOLAR PV TO SPUR ₹14,000-CR INVESTMENT

POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR DISCOMS IN THE

Consumers should be able to choose their supplier according

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INDIA’S CATCH-22: COAL USE SET TO BOOM AS RE-

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PM DEDICATES 1,000 MW NNTPS, 709 MW SOLAR

While addressing, Pralhad Joshi, Union

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NAGALAND POWER REQUIREMENT EXPECTED TO

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ASHOK LEYLAND PICKS 26% STAKE IN

GOLDMAN-BACKED RENEW POWER IS

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GOVT AND OTHER INITIATIVES WILL HELP IN IN-

ORANGE SIGNS RENEWABLE ENERGY DEAL WITH ENGIE

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BLUE WORLD TECHNOLOGIES ACQUIRES

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